LONDON, March 15 (UPI) -- London's budget to host the Olympic Games in 2012 has almost tripled from initial estimates, the government said Thursday.
Culture Minister Tessa Jowell told members of parliament that total costs will be about $18 billion (9.3 billion pounds) as the city builds sports facilities and improves the surrounding areas where the games will take place. London's mayor, Ken Livingstone, is hoping to build an Olympic Park that will include living quarters for 15,000 athletes.
For her part, Jowell remained upbeat, stating that "London 2012 will bring huge financial gain to the whole country."
There is growing fear, however, that budgetary needs may rise still further.
Lawmaker Bob Blackman, who represents the opposition Conservative Party in London, stated that "the assurances given by the mayor and Tessa Jowell that the original budget was totally robust have been blown completely out of the water."
