Olympics project manager puts cost of the Games above latest government estimates


CH2M Hill told an audience of US academics that the cost of Olympics projects would hit 拢12bn even before Tessa Jowell announced cost hikes last week.

Don Evans, chief executive of CH2M Hill, which is part of delivery partner CLM, gave a presentation to delegates at Stanford University in California on 13 November, in which he admitted the estimated cost of the scheme was 拢12bn.

The presentation, obtained by 好色先生TV, puts figures on a series of costs including a 拢2.4bn estimate for the Olympic park. Tessa Jowell last week said this had risen to 拢3.3bn

Evans said the estimated cost of total Olympic programme, including facilities, infrastructure and security was 拢10bn, and that the value of all works would be 拢12bn.

An Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) spokesperson said that the key figure was the 拢2.4bn one. He said other figures were to do with work beyond the ODA鈥檚 remit, despite the fact that Evans placed the costs under the headings of 鈥淥lympic programme facilities鈥 and 鈥渁ll works associated with the Games鈥.

In a separate development, the Culture Department (DCMS) said this week that CLM, the ODA鈥檚 delivery partner for the Games, would receive about 拢100m for its services, despite the fact that Jowell last week put the figure at 拢400m.

A spokesperson for the DCMS said the 拢100m was just guidance. He said: 鈥淲e can鈥檛 put a specific figure on it at the moment because it is partly performance based.鈥

The total amount received by CLM will depend on whether it achieves its time and budget targets.

The remaining 拢300m will be spent on recruiting , planners and within the ODA.