A recent poll shows the downsides of the Olympics are most obvious to those who will be picking up most of the tab.

The cost, including all the "not Olympic" costs, and the legacy of debt those costs will leave are the biggest downer of the Olympics.

The Auditor General pegged the cost of the Olympics in a report back in 2006 at $2.21 billion, which seems a lot for a two week amateur athletic sporting event. Now, pundits put the cost at more like $6 billion once all the cost increases and assorted overruns are included. For example, the convention centre cost increased from $495 million to $883 million, the Athlete's Village turned from $270 million revenue to billion dollar debt, and security costs went from $175 million to $900 million.

The Province (in other words, provincial taxpayers) is responsible for any cost overrun, and at the rate we're going, we're heading for an Olympic-sized tax increase to cover off this legacy of debt.

Adding insult to injury, purchasing event tickets in a lottery system meant it was very difficult, if not impossible, to get tickets. Not so for federal politicians, though. They get to buy $447,000 worth of tickets for some of the most popular events, including hockey.

It won't be easy to get around in Vancouver, and not just during the two week game period, but starting next month roads will be locked down. VANOC is encouraging businesses to give employees time off (to work as paid volunteers for VANOC itself, no doubt), but in case VANOC hasn't noticed, the impact of the recession has increased the unemployment rate here in the province and has already lowered sales for many businesses. Preventing customers from reaching these businesses will further depress sales.

If you work for VANOC, you are in good shape. You'll be able to pick from a $44 million bonus fund after the games.

Thought you lived in a free country? Well think again. VANOC has the right to bust into your home and take down signs it doesn't like. This sounds more like a police state than Canada.

How do people in BC feel about all this?  Not very good.

According to a web poll done by Innovative Research, 71% of BC respondents are either not very or not at all excited about the games, compared to 54% in the rest of Canada. Only 9% of BC respondents are excited about the games, compared to 14% in the rest of Canada.

Do people think the games are a good idea?  Again, not much. 42% of BC respondents think having the games was a mistake, compared to 19% in the rest of Canada. 20% of BC respondents think it was a good idea and 36% said they won't know til after the games. That compares to 31% of respondents in the rest of Canada thinking it was a good idea with 44% saying they won't know until after the games.

While I'm sure most people agree with the spirit of the Olympic games - bringing together amateur athletes from all over the world to celebrate excellence -  turning these games into a money spinner for the International Olympic committee and plugged-in business interests at huge costs to taxpayers today and in the future, is a complete perversion of that spirit.