Danny Stapleton is high up in a large multinational events provider. Being in charge of the British operation, he wants the London Olympics to succeed. He explains why:

“It’s going to have a massive impact on our sector. If it goes well, clients will mentally upgrade the UK as a source of good event management. At the moment we’re something of a backwater. Sourcing major events help here is very difficult. The key expertise just isn’t there. If the Olympics is a badly-organised flop, then we will go further still down the league of people who know how to put on a great event. At the moment, I’m very worried.”

Why is Danny worried?

“Coe is in denial. Locog is all over the place. Boris Johnson is a good figurehead but he’s interfering ineffectually. Last trains home, coach routes for airport pickups, security lapses, and piss-poor supplier choices: this is all Page One stuff these part-timers are getting wrong. It really isn’t looking good.”

Hmm. The man allegedly in charge of Trade & Investment spin-off from the event appears to have some experience in money-laundering and tax evasion, but has never worked an event for trade purposes in his life. This of course is Lord Green, former sensorily challenged CEO and Chairman of HSBC.

Danny Stapleton sums up:

“It’s self-fulfilling, isn’t it? The Government and its Locog amateurs are unable to source expert help because Britain is a backwater. They should’ve looked abroad. Now our backwater status will be confirmed, and penny-pinching plus appalling bugetary control will mean that Britain pays far too much for mediocre help, and gets nothing in the way of business in return.”

Ah well. Brave smile. Warm welcome. Prayers about weather. Cup of tea. Muddle through.