More Corporate tax dodging

**Maggy J** · 11-07-2012, 18:51

https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page...501-4#petition

Quote:

The UK's winning Olympic bid included huge tax breaks for corporate sponsors. As a result, massive multi-nationals stand to make a tax-free fortune all at our expense.

If enough of us complain, then it might scare these image-conscious companies into backing down and refusing their Olympic tax-dodge.

Please add your name to the petition and shame these Olympic corporate sponsors into doing the right thing, sign the petition now.

Not that I expect anything will come of it. But frankly one does expect the Olympics to be conducted in an open and transparent manner.

It's becoming harder and harder to have faith in anything.

beeman · 12-07-2012, 06:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

But frankly one does expect the Olympics to be conducted in an open and transparent manner.

The Olympics were NEVER going to bee conducted in a "open and transparent manner". As one of the main bid conditions (just like with the world cup and euros) is that the terms of the contract between the British government and the IOC must bee kept entirely secret.

arcimedes · 12-07-2012, 07:00

Lets look at the position calmly

Company gives X pounds to Olympics and claims tax relief as legitimate business expense. If the company cant claim tax relief then it will give less and taxpayer will pick up the shortfall as we are apparently doing already with the overpend ( if there is one).

Hence net result is revenue neutral, therefore non event.

If you dont want the games here that is an entirely different point.

martyh · 12-07-2012, 07:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcimedes

Lets look at the position calmly

Company gives X pounds to Olympics and claims tax relief as legitimate business expense. If the company cant claim tax relief then it will give less and taxpayer will pick up the shortfall as we are apparently doing already with the overpend ( if there is one).

Hence net result is revenue neutral, therefore non event.

If you dont want the games here that is an entirely different point.

I think what Maggie is saying is that the tax breaks in themselves are not wrong just the way it has all been kept hush hush which leads people to believe there has been dodgy dealings under the table

**Maggy J** · 12-07-2012, 08:28

Really I don't know why I should be surprised.Year by year it has become apparent that the Olympic committee has become less and less transparent in it's dealings with the various countries staging the events and after all the past bribery and corruption of some Olympic committee members it's harder to have faith that the Olympics themselves are truly conducted in a fair manner.

Especially as they after years of not allowing drugs taking athletes to participate are now allowing them to complete after a certain length of ban..It makes a mockery of the whole ethos of the games which is to hold to a higher standard in all it's dealings.

If there was nothing wrong about this why the hell was it kept quiet?

chris9991 · 12-07-2012, 08:32

I think it's part of the bid requirement. If they didn't do this then when it comes to selecting the host city the IOC would need to consider different rates of tax as well, which could be changed. A similar thing was required for the FIFA South African World Cup

heero_yuy · 12-07-2012, 10:26

With the amount of money sloshing around the event it's no surprise that bribery and corruption will be well established. I think they call it "Commercially sensitive information" as in: If anybody knew what we'd been doing we'd be up before the beak pronto!

It seems that MacDonalds have been able to prevent any other of the 800 odd food concessionares just serving chips on their own. Money talks.

Quote:

The fast food chain has been given sole rights to offer French fries by the International Olympic Committee after becoming the official restaurant sponsor for London 2012.

Source

**Hugh** · 12-07-2012, 11:38

And the rest of the story, from the Times....

Quote:

A Locog spokeswoman confirmed that the notice was genuine and that the embargo on chips extended to all Olympic venues, where McDonald’s is the sole provider of chips or French fries. However, she added that the row had now been resolved and site workers were free to order chips separately.

Itshim · 12-07-2012, 12:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page...501-4#petition

Not that I expect anything will come of it. But frankly one does expect the Olympics to be conducted in an open and transparent manner.

It's becoming harder and harder to have faith in anything.

Really,sorry you surprise me. In the past it has been peppered with cheats. Why you would expect this one to be any different surprises me. Any thing that would think a stunt* first thought up the the Nazis was a great idea would ring alarm bells.

*The torch relay

Macdonalds & sport ,really. Glad I will miss most of it !!!

danielf · 12-07-2012, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

With the amount of money sloshing around the event it's no surprise that bribery and corruption will be well established. I think they call it "Commercially sensitive information" as in: If anybody knew what we'd been doing we'd be up before the beak pronto!

It seems that MacDonalds have been able to prevent any other of the 800 odd food concessionares just serving chips on their own. Money talks.

Source

Nothing new there. The only way (apart from cash) you can pay anywhere in the venues is with a VISA card. Anything else and you're stuffed.

TheDaddy · 12-07-2012, 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Really I don't know why I should be surprised.Year by year it has become apparent that the Olympic committee has become less and less transparent in it's dealings with the various countries staging the events and after all the past bribery and corruption of some Olympic committee members it's harder to have faith that the Olympics themselves are truly conducted in a fair manner.

Especially as they after years of not allowing drugs taking athletes to participate are now allowing them to complete after a certain length of ban..It makes a mockery of the whole ethos of the games which is to hold to a higher standard in all it's dealings.

If there was nothing wrong about this why the hell was it kept quiet?

Anyone watch twenty twelve, strikes me it's more docu soap than satire.

**Chris** · 12-07-2012, 16:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Anyone watch twenty twelve, strikes me it's more docu soap than satire.

I watched the latest episode on the iplayer yesterday while washing up after breakfast ... I nearly dropped my plates more than once, it was hysterical. Can't wait for the next one. Way to go!

TheDaddy · 12-07-2012, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

I watched the latest episode on the iplayer yesterday while washing up after breakfast ... I nearly dropped my plates more than once, it was hysterical. Can't wait for the next one. Way to go!

Yes it is funny

Series 1 here for anyone that missed it

http://www.youtube.com/user/bequist/...&view=0&page=2

**Maggy J** · 16-07-2012, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itshim

Really,sorry you surprise me. In the past it has been peppered with cheats. Why you would expect this one to be any different surprises me. Any thing that would think a stunt* first thought up the the Nazis was a great idea would ring alarm bells.

*The torch relay

Macdonalds & sport ,really. Glad I will miss most of it !!!

Because it is OURs this time.

Itshim · 16-07-2012, 12:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Because it is OURs this time.

And we have NO cheats in "our" team

---------- Post added at 13:40 ---------- Previous post was at 13:35 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itshim

And you have NO cheats in "your" team

Sorry its nothing to do with Wales, or the north ,south west of England etc Scotland, Northern Ireland . Hence I really don`t see it as "ours" Its the LONDON games & as per the norm the rest of the country ends up picking up the bill