If Brazil cancel the Olympics could Atlanta be an emergency host city. (culture, efficiency)

[bUU]

Originally Posted by krogerDisco

If Greece is assured the games every 4 years...

And if gold medals grew on trees, all would be well with the world.

Oh, and back in the world of reality: US debt is about 101% of GDP, while Greece's is 177% of GDP. But what's 76% difference? (Answer: Significant.)

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by bUU

And if gold medals grew on trees, all would be well with the world.

Oh, and back in the world of reality: US debt is about 101% of GDP, while Greece's is 177% of GDP. But what's 76% difference? (Answer: Significant.)

Athens doesn't want the games every four years nor could they possibly pull it off. I'm not sure why it's even a topic of discussion...the Olympics is rotated today mainly because of the overwhelming cost but also because of the prestige it brings to the host city. I think that many Americans that protest against hosting just don't realize the benefits of hosting, but all they would have to do is check out Atlanta 20 years ago compared to today, or check out the massive development happening in London right now. They are great examples of what the Olympics can do for your city - and it an be very unifying for the citizens if they allow it to be.

[bUU]

Originally Posted by JoeTarheel

I think that many Americans that protest against hosting just don't realize the benefits of hosting, but all they would have to do is check out Atlanta 20 years ago compared to today, or check out the massive development happening in London right now. They are great examples of what the Olympics can do for your city - and it an be very unifying for the citizens if they allow it to be.

However, to be fair, much of Atlanta's success came from doing the Olympics "wrong" from the standpoint of the IOC and many sport-purists.

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by bUU

However, to be fair, much of Atlanta's success came from doing the Olympics "wrong" from the standpoint of the IOC and many sport-purists.

I disagree...that was mostly overblown and exaggerated, and from a "purist" point of view the actual competitions were outstanding. The IOC just didn't know what to make of southern culture I guess, but I would expect a lot of condescension from them anyway.

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by JoeTarheel

Multiple Olympians Have Been Held At Gunpoint In Rio

Ryan Lochte was just robbed at gunpoint last night...this has been a constant problem in Rio. It can obviously happen anywhere, but not to the extent that it has happened there.

So Ryan Lochte wasn't robbed at gunpoint? Sounds like it was all a dream...apparently chlorine to the brain causes you to think there's a gun point at your face when you're really just peeing in public.

[stillinthesouth]

Originally Posted by JoeTarheel

So Ryan Lochte wasn't robbed at gunpoint? Sounds like it was all a dream...apparently chlorine to the brain causes you to think there's a gun point at your face when you're really just peeing in public.

Edit 1: Maybe his delusional tale was a result of the silver hair dye he applied that slowly seeped into his brain.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by JoeTarheel

I disagree...that was mostly overblown and exaggerated, and from a "purist" point of view the actual competitions were outstanding. The IOC just didn't know what to make of southern culture I guess, but I would expect a lot of condescension from them anyway.

I think he was referring to what was called the "crass commercialization" of the Games, which is why Atlanta didn't go into debt like other cities.

[bUU]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

I think he was referring to what was called the "crass commercialization" of the Games, which is why Atlanta didn't go into debt like other cities.

Precisely. Make no mistake: There are now three parties to "the transaction": The IOC, the host city, and the US broadcast network broadcasting the games. Two of the three parties are now well-versed on how to get their own way, games-after-games (the IOC and the US broadcast network). The host city is typically more easily manipulated by the other parties, since they don't do it often, and are often politically desperate for the prestige. That wasn't a problem in LA. For those games, there were three parties with relatively equal leverage. Whatever positive regard Ueberroth gets for 1984 came from his ability to get what LA and California needed from "the transaction", a balance between costs of the games and revenues that is said to have resulted in $10M on the positive side. By comparison, the same comparison shows Athens $14B on the negative side.

The reality today is that whenever the games are hosted by a city unwilling to effectively put the IOC and the European Olympic curmudgeons in their place, the games will benefit the IOC's lofty idealism and the US broadcast network's treasury, and harm - harm - the host city. In such situations, the host city is more likely to bite off more than it should, and as we saw in Rio, more than they legitimately could handle with aplomb. So the either games themselves will risk suffering from the failures of the host city or the host city will risk suffering from the privilege of hosting the games - or a mixture of both. On the flip side, if the host city is able to gain adequate leverage, then the IOC's lofty idealism will suffer.

[krogerDisco]

Ok, Rio made it to the finish line. Video effects on the field at the closing ceremonies are really cool. Also a nice celebration of their culture. Guess we'll see Tokyo show how it's done in terms of production and efficiency. Japan's presentation was really good. Looks like they'll raise the bar and LA, if they get the games, will need to turn to Silicon Valley for some more high-tech visuals.

[bUU]

I wonder to what extent the video display system in Rio looked as good to the participants in the stadium as it did to the television audience.