If Brazil cancel the Olympics could Atlanta be an emergency host city. (how much, universities)

[Atlwarrior]

They are telling water athletes to keep their mouth closed because of sewage in the water.

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by DJDeadParrot

Pretty much of the same opinion here -- the modern Olympics is an idea whose time has come and gone. They have given the world a treasure trove of memorable, and iconic, sporting moments for more than a century. But it might be time to lay them to rest.

No way...the modern Olympics should continue as long as there is a demand for it. Things need to change - like the expectation of spending billions of dollars on stadiums that will be abandoned later...see Athens as a great example of this. They need to be sure the LA/Atlanta/London model is always used, where there is purpose for the buildings following the 2 weeks of Olympic use. The Olympics should be a great shot in the arm for any host city - if done correctly. Of course the jury is still out on Rio, but it looks like they have not planned well for afterwards. I guess we shall see.

I can't even imagine Atlanta if we had not been a host city...we certainly wouldn't be the same city today. A lot of the development and improvements that we've seen since 1990 are a direct (or at least indirect) result of the '96 Olympics. I know other cities have similarly benefited too, especially London.

[bUU]

When this matter has been brought up in the past (20 years ago, 30 years ago, etc.) the best idea I saw floated was the designation of (at most) four or five "permanent" host cities, cities that knew that they'd have the games at least every twenty years, and therefore would have the incentive to retain and maintain suitable facilities.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by bUU

When this matter has been brought up in the past (20 years ago, 30 years ago, etc.) the best idea I saw floated was the designation of (at most) four or five "permanent" host cities, cities that knew that they'd have the games at least every twenty years, and therefore would have the incentive to retain and maintain suitable facilities.

That sounds pretty reasonable...and they should open up bidding to non-permanent host cities every few cycles.

[cqholt]

A piece in Fortune magazine cites the mounting costs — now estimated at $20 billion — of the Rio Olympics as a rallying call for reevaluating how the Games are put on. The author, who enviably got to be a torch bearer in Atlanta, cites three lessons from the Atlanta Games that could serve to make the Olympics a better experience for host cities in the future: support, profit, and securing a useful legacy.

Rio debt makes Atlanta

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Rio debt makes Atlanta

Atlanta got a lot of flack for how it funded the Games, but it seems history has vindicated it.

[krogerDisco]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Rio debt makes Atlanta

Despite their problems, from my sofa, the Rio games look really good. Only noticeable problem was the green water in the diving pool.

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by krogerDisco

Despite their problems, from my sofa, the Rio games look really good. Only noticeable problem was the green water in the diving pool.

There have been numerous problems but they aren't really highlighting them on tv. I guess that's the way it should be, but I bet we'll hear a lot about them afterwards. The scenery is beautiful and the real focus is the competition, so from a spectator standpoint it looks great.

[krogerDisco]

Originally Posted by JoeTarheel

There have been numerous problems but they aren't really highlighting them on tv. I guess that's the way it should be, but I bet we'll hear a lot about them afterwards. The scenery is beautiful and the real focus is the competition, so from a spectator standpoint it looks great.

Rio is stunningly beautiful. As far as problems, I'd only worry about stuff that would hinder staging the games.

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by krogerDisco

Rio is stunningly beautiful. As far as problems, I'd only worry about stuff that would hinder staging the games.

There have been multiple problems with the athletes village. I've read/heard about many of them leaving for hotels. A lot of the venues have had sparse crowds too, which doesn't look great on tv and doesn't make for an exciting environment. A lot of these and other things will come out after the games are over, but I still enjoy watching them. What I hate is the politics involved in awarding the host city...this should have been Chicago's year and we wouldn't have had the issues - but oh well. The IOC seems to think they know what they're doing.