The cost of hosting the Olympics should be outweighed by the tourist money coming into London in 2012 and for a good few years beyond. It is great PR for the city and will directly benefit the economy in terms of actual money coming in from tourists, regeneration putting money into the economy and bringing new workers to the capital, as well as the feel good factor mentioned by John.

For residents of FH who are not sports fans and fancy getting away from it all, renting out houses over the Olympic period could be a direct source of income from the Olympics, or at least fund a nice holiday almost anywhere else in the world.