The poll, published by Opinium Research today, shows that 40 per cent of respondents think the budget for the 2012 Olympics is "out of control" and that the final cost of the Games is likely to be at least twice as high as the current prediction of £9.3 billion.

 

In the latest poll published that claims to provide a snap-shot of what people think about London hosting the Games, four in ten think that hosting the Olympics will provide no long-term benefits to the UK.

 

They also think that the taxpayers' money would be better spent on improving services such as the National Health Service.

 

Forty-five per cent of the 2,600 respondents also think that other areas of the UK would be just as capable of hosting the Games as London, and in fact are more in need of the regeneration which comes with being host.

 

The Government also comes in for considerable criticism, with almost half of the respondents claiming it is too incompetent to run the Olympics.

 

Mark Hodson, head of research at Opinium said: "The start of the Beijing Olympics has done little to fuel people's enthusiasm for 2012.

 

"People feel that the budget is spiralling out of control and they feel money could be better spent elsewhere.

 

"This sentiment is probably reinforced by the current economic climate.

 

"Given that 2012 could be a highlight of an inaugural Conservative Government and the final spend will be decided by them, it is interesting to see that 39 per cent of those voting Conservative also think that the Olympics do not provide any long term benefits to the UK, and taxpayers' money could be better spent, compared to 23 per cent voting Labour."

 

A spokeswoman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Government department in charge of the Olympics, said: "The UK is well on track to deliver a truly spectacular Games in 2012 which will leave a lasting sporting, social and economic legacy for the whole UK.

 

"Our own research, conducted ahead of the launch of our Legacy Action Plan in June, showed that 76 per cent of people questioned were pleased that the Games were coming to the UK whilst seven out of 10 people thought the Games would have a positive impact on the UK."