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Aside from the terrorist attack, the games went off without a major hitch, the U.S. lead the medal count with 101, and city had zero debt before the Games even began. It was also the single event that catapulted Atlanta from a city of national importance into a World City. Yeah, sounds like a failure to me. Not to mention Michael Johnson's world record 400 meter world record run 2 days after the bombing was one of the highlights Olympic lore.
But that's ok, I'll just let you stay ignorant with your "Bubbaolympics" comment
That criticism is SO retarded and based on nothing but ignorance. I wonder if other countries experience the same type of polarization between cities as in the U.S.? I would expect that the entire country of Spain was very proud of the Barcelona Olympics, and Australia of the Sydney Olympics...yet in the U.S. the envy and bitterness just rises to the top. It's kinda sad that there isn't more unification.
Location: The Greatest city on Earth: City of Atlanta Proper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DeaconJ
That criticism is SO retarded and based on nothing but ignorance. I wonder if other countries experience the same type of polarization between cities as in the U.S.? I would expect that the entire country of Spain was very proud of the Barcelona Olympics, and Australia of the Sydney Olympics...yet in the U.S. the envy and bitterness just rises to the top. It's kinda sad that there isn't more unification.
From my experiences from working and living in other countries they do, but to a much smaller extent than in America. That just comes from too much competition I suppose. When you have 20 cities that could easily be the dominant city in any country you put them in that's bound to happen.
There were issues with logistics, traffic (Atlanta is already a hard city to get around, traffic or no traffic) and over-commercialization. While not a fiasco, it did hamper things a bit.
According to the economic outcome of the Olympics along with the lack of national funding, it seems that the commercialization was exactly the right amount. It didn't affect the experience for those in attendance or those viewing on telelvision.
The logistics thing was overblown by the international media, which was already bitter because Athens didn't win. There was one incident that I heard about where a bus driver got lost trying to find a venue - ONE INCIDENT - yet it has now become "logistics issues". It's so tiresome.
From my experiences from working and living in other countries they do, but to a much smaller extent than in America. That just comes from too much competition I suppose. When you have 20 cities that could easily be the dominant city in any country you put them in that's bound to happen.
That may be true...I have no idea. But I don't remember L.A. getting as much criticism following the '84 Olympics, although I was young and didn't pay as much attention.
Location: The Greatest city on Earth: City of Atlanta Proper
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Originally Posted by Overcooked_Oatmeal
There were issues with logistics, traffic (Atlanta is already a hard city to get around, traffic or no traffic) and over-commercialization. While not a fiasco, it did hamper things a bit.
Every country has problems with logistics during the Olympics. It's impossible not to given the amount of people and events that are occurring all at once.
There were no problems with traffic during the Atlanta games, that's just people projecting what they believe they know about the city. During the 96 games, most companies gave their employees the two weeks off or the option to work from home.
The over commercialization thing was a knock against the corporate sponsorship of the games. That worked out quite well for the city since we had zero debt, where the people ended up financing the games in Athens, Sydney, and Beijing...and stuck with the debt afterwards. I'm not certain, but I believe Montreal was still paying off the debt from 1976 games up until a few years ago.
I think hr was talking about the LBJ freeway, not the lake.
I guess some of the water events could be done along the lakes in Austin. And maybe some saltwater events in Galveston Bay? Make it a statewide effort.
Why not? as long as most of the events are in either Houston or Dallas (as in one or the other), I think it could work. Beijing had a few sports in Hong Kong, why not Houston have the water events in Austin (I'm not sure Dallas would go for that considering the lakes just north of Dallas)? It would be hard to beat the scenery of a rowing event in Town Lake with downtown Austin in the back ground.
But Oatmeal, you lived in Texas. You know that if Houston or Dallas where one of the forerunners to host, the whole state (the government, cities, billionaires and all) would be trying to contribute to bring an Olympics to Texas.
I think the poster was talking about the LBJ freeway, not the lake.
I guess some of the water events could be done along the lakes in Austin. And maybe some saltwater events in Galveston Bay? Make it a statewide effort.
Indeed I was. But it really doesn't matter, He needs to get out more.
I was just saying that the media and the elites were criticizing the commercialization, but given that Atlanta was a city built on trade and transportation, that should've been known.
But you are right, Atlanta didn't have any debt, so I ain't mad at em! And the Olympics turned an already great city into the world class city that it is today.
I'm pretty sure people in Montreal look at the Olympic Stadium and curse it.
I was just saying that the media and the elites were criticizing the commercialization, but given that Atlanta was a city built on trade and transportation, that should've been known.
But you are right, Atlanta didn't have any debt, so I ain't mad at em! And the Olympics turned an already great city into the world class city that it is today.
I'm pretty sure people in Montreal look at the Olympic Stadium and curse it.
Toronto would be a cool city to host it though.
Nice response.
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It didn't affect the experience for those in attendance or those viewing on telelvision.
