Beds and Bars boss: 'Olympics will create chaos'

The 2012 Olympics are a rip-off that could damage the British economy for a decade.

That's the view of Keith Knowles, managing director of Beds And Bars, the group that runs 16 backpacker hostels in the UK and Europe, with a Belushi's or a St Christopher's Inn attached to each.

Knowles said there is "a huge negative to the Olympics", and points to the "rip off pricing" by hotels and the "utter chaos" created in the capital by the event.

"I think people could be put off coming to London altogether next year. And the ones who do come could be ripped off and never come again," he said.

Knowles has pledged not to raise his room prices next year unlike many UK hotel groups.

As a big sports fans, Knowles is also angry that "elitist" ticket pricing is taking the Games out of reach of the vast majority of people - the better tickets for finals cost £725, and as much as £2,000 for a good seat at the opening ceremony.

He added: "We're all paying a massive amount through taxes to host the Olympics but most people are not going to be part of it. This should have been the People's Olympics."

The Olympics Organising Committee and Visit Britain particularly attract Knowles' wrath for their strict control over merchandising and logos.

"We can't even put the Olympic's five-hoop logo on our web site, let alone the 2012 logo, so we couldn't get involved with promoting it even if we wanted to. I have not got a single ounce of enthusiasm for the 2012 Olympics."

Knowles is not only unhappy with the Olympics - he says he is increasingly disillusioned with life in Britain, and cites the new licensing regime "which could lose me my licence and all that I've invested in a site" over one upheld objection.

"If the UK doesn't sort itself out, I'll leave and go and live in Switzerland," he said.