The bridge at the Fen Causeway during a recent foggy morning. The fog was so dense that day the coach I was planning to take to London was more than 30 minutes late. I decided to take the train instead.

 

Recently, some of my photos have been featured in publications and one exhibition. Several of my Hackney Wick photos were included in the Hackney in Focus exhibition organised by some students from University of East London. One photo is included in this year’s online Cambridge Schmap guide.

 

 

I have no idea what ulterior motive (if any) that the guys behind the website have. Money can’t be that strong a factor because by most accounts, the Olympic Development Agency paid residents generous amounts to move out of an economically depressed, if socially vibrant, area.

 

It also got me thinking what are the costs of hosting major events such as the F1 race or the Youth Olympics in Singapore. While the scale is not as large as the Olympics and Singapore is not building massive new facilities to host these major events, there are still costs that the taxpayer has to bear. If nothing else, there are opportunity costs as the money spent to attract the likes of Bernie Ecclestone could have gone to social causes or (my preferred option) returned to taxpayers. Then there are the hidden costs where manpower resources are mobilised to support such events. These costs are hidden because in most cases, these officers are not remunerated for the endless nights that they have to spend as liaison officers, ushers etc. Then there is the cost of these officers leaving their normal work in the office undone.

 

As one who was trained in economics, I could argue that the net benefits of hosting such major events could be redistributed to those who contributed their efforts. Unfortunately, that never happens.