Albertville hosted the 1992 Winter Olympics, and went 135% over budget.
That translated into a reported deficit of $57 million, and the French government was forced to pick up some of the tab.
"Obviously we have a small regret," one of the organizers said at the time. "We would have liked to have presented a perfectly balanced budget. It's a pity. But there was no single major mistake."
According to the Oxford study, running over budget is just part of the Olympic experience.
"The Games overrun with 100% consistency. No other type of mega-project is this consistent regarding cost overrun," the Oxford researchers wrote. "Other project types are typically on budget from time to time, but not the Olympics."
