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View Full Version : No olympics in the US



Cliff Rohrabacher
10-02-2009, 1:33 PM
I can't say I'm unhappy about it.
It seems that the Olympics are a great way to squander a lot of money.

Neal Clayton
10-02-2009, 1:40 PM
the benefits should far outweigh the costs, though.

Ed Hazel
10-02-2009, 2:07 PM
I enjoy watching some of the Olympic events but I can not help thinking how much money is spent on them from the new buildings all the training and travel it is a Hugh worldwide investment.
I think as a world we could find a better use of all resources that are put into the games. Then again I guess it is not much different then say college or pro sports.

Josh Reet
10-02-2009, 2:11 PM
I enjoy watching some of the Olympic events but I can not help thinking how much money is spent on them from the new buildings all the training and travel it is a Hugh worldwide investment.
I think as a world we could find a better use of all resources that are put into the games. Then again I guess it is not much different then say college or pro sports.

I don't know. For all it's problems and commercialism, the Olympics bring people from all over the world together in the spirit of (mostly) friendly competition. Most are unpaid athletes just following a dream and doing something they are passionate about. There aren't a lot of things like taht in the world these days and I think it has value because of it.

As much as I love the pro sports I follow, professional sports just reward a bunch of selfish jerks with multi-million contracts.

Neal Clayton
10-02-2009, 2:47 PM
I enjoy watching some of the Olympic events but I can not help thinking how much money is spent on them from the new buildings all the training and travel it is a Hugh worldwide investment.
I think as a world we could find a better use of all resources that are put into the games. Then again I guess it is not much different then say college or pro sports.

this depends on the local government, imo.

the example i can remember is the '84 worlds fair that was held in new orleans. as an event, it was a loser. i don't think it ever broke even. but a section of warehouses that were previously abandoned were renovated or demolished and rebuilt for the event, and that started a revitalization of that entire area of the city. years later the district is still doing well, primarily due to the convention center and shops that were built for that one event.

the same can be said for the superdome. it was hugely overbudget and considering the revenue from the football team only, not viable. but when you add in the college bowls and large conventions and other such things that are also done there, the city makes a ton of money from it.

Eric Larsen
10-02-2009, 3:45 PM
I'm hoping Rio gets it.

The Brazilians are right, it's high time we held the games in South America. The US has hosted the Olympics how many times? Seven, I think?

I think we should give the rest of the world a chance. I hope India, New Zealand and South Africa get the games in my lifetime. I'd also like to see Mexico City get a chance to re-host. Switzerland and the Netherlands haven't had the games in a long time, either.

I'd say it's going to be awhile before the US hosts again.

Brian Kent
10-02-2009, 4:13 PM
I would have been happy about Detroit, but I am happy now for Rio. There is a lot of need in that part of the world. They could use the business and the jobs, as well as the face lift and tourist exposure.

Steve Rozmiarek
10-02-2009, 6:25 PM
Let's see, Rio or Chicago, hmmmmm....., guess where I would rather go!

Keith Starosta
10-02-2009, 6:45 PM
Oh, how I'd love to turn this into a politcal thread......but I shant.... ;)

- Keith

Cliff Rohrabacher
10-02-2009, 9:44 PM
The spirit of the Olympics as it is embodied in the kids who go and compete is one thing.

The actual practice of how all those billions attracts the worst imaginable people to the table is another thing altogether.

I say sand lots and park and school ball fields are where it's at.

Take that Phelps fellow.
Don't know him from Adam but, it strikes me as a tad imbalanced that any one can or would spend their whole day every day swimming.
I suppose if he's independently wealthy and so far gone obsessional that he'd need a flotilla of psychiatrists, maybe but still why? What purpose does it serve?

But then I'm one of those guys who thinks that it makes absolutely no sense that ball players can earn millions. It just makes no sense to me that any one can get wealthy playing a bleeding game. It's a game, not a profession, not a trade, not an avocation - - it's a game. Ball games should be for children and sunday afternoons after church or whatever.

Denny Rice
10-03-2009, 3:54 AM
I would of loved to see Chicago get the Olympics. I just don't think they have the luster they had 20 years ago when they started letting professionals play in the games. Chicago is going to be a great city to watch the game of hockey in this winter. The Blackhawks are set to make a run for the Stanley Cup this year the Red Wings will never keep up with them this season. Ozzy's too old to play 80 games in net and giving up 5 plus goals a game it just to hard for the Wings to win.

Dan Friedrichs
10-03-2009, 11:53 AM
The spirit of the Olympics as it is embodied in the kids who go and compete is one thing.

The actual practice of how all those billions attracts the worst imaginable people to the table is another thing altogether.

I say sand lots and park and school ball fields are where it's at.

Take that Phelps fellow.
Don't know him from Adam but, it strikes me as a tad imbalanced that any one can or would spend their whole day every day swimming.
I suppose if he's independently wealthy and so far gone obsessional that he'd need a flotilla of psychiatrists, maybe but still why? What purpose does it serve?

But then I'm one of those guys who thinks that it makes absolutely no sense that ball players can earn millions. It just makes no sense to me that any one can get wealthy playing a bleeding game. It's a game, not a profession, not a trade, not an avocation - - it's a game. Ball games should be for children and sunday afternoons after church or whatever.

Very well-said, Cliff. I couldn't agree more...

paul cottingham
10-03-2009, 12:26 PM
Take that Phelps fellow.
Don't know him from Adam but, it strikes me as a tad imbalanced that any one can or would spend their whole day every day swimming.
I suppose if he's independently wealthy and so far gone obsessional that he'd need a flotilla of psychiatrists, maybe but still why? What purpose does it serve?



Phelps was not independently wealthy, in fact I think he was raised by a single mom who was a teacher. She put him in swimming cause he has ADHD and all the swimming helped him to equalize and stay focused for school without drugs. I swam with lots of kids like him, three or four hours a day in the pool, for no other reason than love of the sport.

Bill Arnold
10-03-2009, 1:27 PM
... Don't know him from Adam but, it strikes me as a tad imbalanced that any one can or would spend their whole day every day swimming. ...

I spend (almost) all day, every day making sawdust. Not that LOML wouldn't agree with the imbalanced part! :eek:

Ken Fitzgerald
10-03-2009, 1:40 PM
First,

I think it is good that it's held somewhere different.

2nd,

While I agree about overpaid athletes...in the case of professionals they are just another form of entertainment for the masses.


But then......

Spice is what makes life interesting. I hate to think what life would be like if everyone thought like Ken Fitzgerald. Hey.....I'd even be out of a job here as an overpaid Moderator.:rolleyes:

Joe Pelonio
10-03-2009, 3:26 PM
I agree with Steve, given the choice of going or even watching on TV Rio would definitely be my choice over Chicago. Just seems like it would be a lot more interesting and may even attract more viewers that are not into the sports so much.

As for Phelps, Paul was right about his start. That makes it an amazing story, and a kid who might have struggled to make a living will just from the Olympics have a fortune in endorsements to last a long time if he handles it well.

Ken, they must be paying you a lot more than me if you are overpaid!:D

Must be seniority!;)

Greg Peterson
10-03-2009, 6:36 PM
The US lost out on a chance to show off Chicago to the world in 2016. Some obviously take great satisfaction in this.

The Olympics are about achieving perfection. A stage for the world to witness the greatest athletes, going head to head, winners and losers separated by the thinnest of margins.

I'll watch the Olympics regardless where they are held. It would have been nice to show the world Chicago though.

Bob Genovesi
10-04-2009, 7:55 AM
Oh, how I'd love to turn this into a politcal thread......but I shant.... ;)

- Keith

Man you stole my thunder!! http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/lol-053.gif (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/Free-Baby-Smileys/)

In life timing is everything and I suspect that the video of some of the locals beating each other with 2X4's may have influenced the decision just a little. It's probably just a wee bit safer in Irag. http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/lol-053.gif (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/Free-Baby-Smileys/)

Greg Peterson
10-04-2009, 8:33 PM
Man you stole my thunder!! http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/lol-053.gif (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/Free-Baby-Smileys/)

In life timing is everything and I suspect that the video of some of the locals beating each other with 2X4's may have influenced the decision just a little.http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/lol-053.gif (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/Free-Baby-Smileys/)

Hogwash. Could the fact that we had a bomb blowup at our last Olympic games have any bearing on their decision?

Rio de Janeiro has an ample supply of corruption and a large contingent of homeless people including children engaging in activities that are even more repulsive than some rioting mob wielding 2x4'.

If we are going to examine the motives of the committee, we should put all the cards on the table rather than deal from the bottom of the deck.

Ken Fitzgerald
10-04-2009, 10:22 PM
Greg,

No offense.

Just because the committee didn't select Chicago as the site doesn't mean it was a corrupt decision.

Greg Peterson
10-04-2009, 10:44 PM
Greg,

No offense.

Just because the committee didn't select Chicago as the site doesn't mean it was a corrupt decision.

I wasn't implying the IOC was/is corrupt. One person was advancing the theory that Chicago is a violent city and the IOC might have been influenced by this. I countered with the fact that our last Olympic games were marred by a bomb.

Rio isn't any more pristine and pure than Chicago. They have more than their share of corruption.

It is unfair, and offensive, to say an American city is more violent than a war zone. Throwing Chicago under the bus has turned into a blood sport I guess.

Ken Fitzgerald
10-04-2009, 10:55 PM
Greg,

I moved to Idaho from the Chicago area 27 years ago.

I'm the oldest of 6 kids. When my next inline sister was born we were living at 3600 South St. Louis. The neighborhood's changed. I was two when some woman made the remark " What a lovely little girl you have!" to my father who was holding my hand on a sidewalk and me with my never shorn blonde curls. My Dad told my Mom "I'll be back." and holding my hand jumped onto a street car and I got my first hair cut in downtown Chicago somewhere.

I'll admit, I left Chicago as a child and didn't move back for 27 years. I lived and worked there for 4 1/2 years as an adult.

I don't think anybody is throwing Chicago under the bus but the timing of the teen being beaten to death surely either didn't help Chicago's cause or at least helped the committee to justify it's decision.

As I stated earlier, I really think as an international event the Olympics should be moved regularly. If I heard it correctly.....I'm nearly deaf......there has never been an Olympics held in any South American country.

Gene Howe
10-04-2009, 11:00 PM
Greg,

No offense.

Just because the committee didn't select Chicago as the site doesn't mean it was a corrupt decision.

You may be right. If it were the other way around, though...???

Ken Fitzgerald
10-04-2009, 11:12 PM
You may be right. If it were the other way around, though...???


Same result as far as I am concerned.

So Chicago didn't get selected. Lewiston, Idaho didn't get selected either. Neither did Clarkston, WA.....or Missoula, MT .....or someplace in CA..

So what?

In all aspects of life, you some times win....you some times lose......sometimes things go your way......sometimes they don't........

It's not always some big conspiracy contrary to what a lot of skeptical or paranoid people would like to believe.

There are more important things in life IMHO. The Olympics....athletes.....entertainment....... So what?

There are a lot more important things in life. Nobody is going to lose their life as a result of this decision.

Something in life are important........... Most aren't......this isn't.

JMHO

Greg Peterson
10-04-2009, 11:40 PM
I don't think current events shaped the IOC's decision to cut Chicago. Rather, I think South America was long overdue to host an Olympics.

Regardless, I took offense at the negative comparison of an American city to a war zone.