Less Flash, Less Cash: London's Pragmatic Olympics
Beijing shelled out an eye-popping $44 billion to put on the 2008 Summer Olympics, and the investment clearly showed, from the gorgeous Bird's Nest stadium and Water Cube to flawless operations and security. London doesn't have that kind of money to spend—the budget is only $17 billion—but it has many existing facilities to use, from Wimbledon for tennis to the North Greenwich Dome for gymnastics. The main difference the British capital promises from its "pragmatic" Olympics is more openness and fun, which orderly, buckled-down Beijing slightly lacked.
Click on for a tour of the venues planned for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
