MILLIONS OF DOLLARS were spent to get Kensington Oval and other stadia around the Caribbean ready for Cricket World Cup 2007.

But the figures being tossed around for the imminent Olympic Games and even those four years down the road, are mind-boggling.

Indeed, it's a tale of two diverse cities, two contrasting budgets and two unique Olympic Games. It's the tale of the Summer Olympics – Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

The guys in China pride themselves on the fact that they have been able to clean up the environment, somewhat, and keep costs under control despite spiralling oil prices.

On the other hand the guys in London have been called to account as lawmakers in Britain try to battle rocketing costs, and even though things have not yet reached boiling point, the Games' organisers have been accused of "willing to spend money like water".

With the big event more than four years away, a recent estimate predicted that the London organisers could expect to cough out BDS$37 billion. This as the government's Culture, Media and Sport Committee released a report Wednesday criticising the huge increase in the projected overall cost of staging the Games since the bidding process in 2004.

Cost estimates have more than doubled from the BDS$16 billion forecast four years ago. The committee said such a huge increase was far greater than could be reasonably expected. The committee was especially critical of the fourfold increase in the cost of the Aquatics Centre, which is now expected to be BDS$1.2 billion.

"The concept of the Aquatics Centre might be spectacular and eye-catching, but it appears to be over-designed and will be an expensive way of providing the facilities for water sports needed during and after the Games.

In our opinion, the history of the Aquatics Centre shows a risible approach to cost control and that the Games organisers seem to be willing to spend money like water," the report warned.

Over in China the water is less troubled.

The much awaited Beijing Games start on August 8, and BOCOG (the Games organising committee) reportedly spent BDS$70 billion to BDS$80 billion on improved infrastructure, including a new airport terminal and subway lines, as well as BDS$4.25 billion to cover the cost
of running the Games. These are all under budget, according to officials.

Their National Aquatics Centre, which is appropriately nicknamed the Water Cube because of its unique design, will be used for swimming, diving, and synchronised swimming. It can seat 17 000 fans and has not created as much fuss as London's.

To the Chinese it's like water under the bridge.

To Barbadians, it's perhaps more like moving heaven and earth to get the job done. (PS)