London 2012

I thought it was 1 April when I read the following story:

“The Olympic mountain bike course, complete with its big technical rock drops to challenge the world’s best riders, has been finished. Building work at the course at Hadleigh Farm in Essex began last July. Up to 500 tonnes of rock and 3,500 tonnes of crushed stone were used. Up to 100 riders will be invited to the test event scheduled for July 31 and 50 men and 30 women riders will compete at the Olympics.”

Either the whole idea of the Olympics is too London centred or there are no serviceable mountains anywhere else in the UK worthy of consideration – even though Weymouth (somewhat distant from London) has made it as a sailing venue on the basis of its natural marine assets. Which is the case and is anyone at all able to make a case for the Olympics bringing any economic benefit to rural England?