In the wake of Silverstone's inclusion in the 2005 Formula One calendar, attention has turned, once again, to the idea of a race through the streets of London.

Although the idea has been kicked around since the seventies, the prospect of holding a full Grand Prix in the British capital has only truly taken off in the last year, particularly after the F1 parade in Regent Street ahead of this year's British Grand Prix.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is fully behind the idea, but then he would be, Mr Excellent would be happy to hold fifty-two Grands Prix a year, particularly when promoters are falling over themselves to hand him vast wads of cash.

On the subject of money, it is the question of who pays for the event that is preventing the deal being signed off.

"Ken knows that," Ecclestone told the Daily Telegraph, referring to London mayor, Ken Livingstone. "I have told him. I would sign a deal today. Ken is still very much behind the idea, which is good. It could happily run alongside a British Grand Prix at Silverstone. It is finding the money to put it on."

Mr Livingstone, a man who ensures that he milks every last ounce of self-promotion from every project he so much as glances at, would dearly love to host a Grand Prix on the streets of London, even though the sport is in total conflict with his socialist views.

Mr Livingstone is already involved with the attempt to bring the Olympics to the capital, using every means possible to promote the event to the hard pressed citizens, and more importantly, the rate payers in the capital who will have to foot the bill.

The truth is that London is unlikely to get the Olympics. Not because it is up against stiff opposition in the form of New York and Paris, but because London does not deserve the Olympics.

Speaking yesterday, former Sports Minister, Kate Hoey, was of exactly the same opinion. "I don't believe we should be wasting all the millions of pounds we are going to waste," she told BBC's Fighting Talk. "If we want to regenerate London, regenerate London, but don't wait for 123 International Olympic Committee members to decide we're going to regenerate it.

"The inevitable thing over the next six months will be the hype about London's bid and how we're going to win by miles," she added, "the inevitability is Paris will win.

"Longer term we should host an Olympics sometime but not at the moment because I don't think we are ready. We don't deserve it and Paris does."

The British capital doesn't have the infrastructure or the money for such an event, nor does it have the attitude.

London is not Monaco, nor is it Melbourne. Londoners are not willing to accept changes, and both the Olympics and a Grand Prix would mean weeks of upheaval.

Those that attended this summer's event will know that it was, despite the hyperbole, badly organized and in many ways a disaster waiting to happen.

London is not the friendly, happy city that travel agents would have you believe. It does not in any way live up to its picture postcard image.

London is dirty and filled with people waiting to rip you off. The transport system is out of date and barely able to cope with current loads. Although tourists are encouraged to visit the capital they are treated shamefully by locals and surly workers in hotels, bars and shops. Furthermore, London simply doesn't have the money, not when some of its hospitals, schools and housing is amongst the worst in the country.

For every fan that will tell you about how good the Formula One Parade was, you will find four or five only to happy to recount their experiences, usually involving drunken yobs, something the capital can produce not only in great numbers but with limited warning.

London does not deserve the Olympics, nor does it deserve a Grand Prix, if the money is available, invest it in something that will truly benefit the city and its citizens, not Messrs Ecclestone and Livingstone.

Chris Balfe
Editor and lifelong Londoner