2016 Olympic Games, Rio

[Leonormous Boozer]

I'll remember this one for it clearly outing the Olympics as a corrupt event that goes against everything it supposedly stands for. Our Olympic committee were shown up as greedy assholes and the number of empty seats around suggest they weren't the only ones messing around like they did. The boxing was a farce and in the bantamweight class alone stole the opportunity to see two fights that would have been the best in the entire competition in Conlan v Stevenson and then Conlan v Ramirez. Add to that that it's entirely impossible to know who is doping or not and you've got a bit of a shallow games. I watched more than I thought I would but I was not impressed at all.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Anyone else find the post on the European Parliament Facebook page saying the EU has more medals than USA and China with the #strongertogether a bit cringe.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Anyone else find the post on the European Parliament Facebook page saying the EU has more medals than USA and China with the #strongertogether a bit cringe.

Ah, who cares, it's not a d**k swinging contest about which nation wins the most medals. That's not what the Olympics are all about...

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Ah, who cares, it's not a d**k swinging contest about which nation wins the most medals. That's not what the Olympics are all about...

TBH that is kind of what I'm saying.

Also Shut up.

 

[ncurd]

Anyone else find the post on the European Parliament Facebook page saying the EU has more medals than USA and China with the #strongertogether a bit cringe.

To be honest I'm sick of all the 'political' posts about the Olympic games.

Most of all I'm sick of people sharing stories that promote their world view but have zero interest in the actual sport itself.

For instance I've seen way more posts about Hockey to do with the fact a married gay couple won Olympic gold than about Maddie Hinch's heroics throughout the match.

Last night I lamented the end of the games and waiting 4 more years and someone immediately jumped on me about the Paralympics (which I find tends to be the most-able person in a category winning by miles and dull because of it), that person has barely watched any of the actual Olympics and in general doesn't like sport.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Quite excited about the Winter Olympics might try and go in 2 years.

Agree with the rest.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I could not agree more, ncurd.

 

[ncurd]

I should state I love the Paralympic ideals and I like it exists, I just can't pretend it's compelling sport.

The Winter Olympics are great but as I worked out earlier its 102 events over 15 disciplines as opposed to 306 events over 41 disciplines. I'd try to create parity between the two by moving some popular indoor summer games to the winter games but it's complicated. Sadly because of that its not quite the same festival of sport.

 

[TRF_heineken]

I should state I love the Paralympic ideals and I like it exists, I just can't pretend it's compelling sport.

The Winter Olympics are great but as I worked out earlier its 102 events over 15 disciplines as opposed to 306 events over 41 disciplines. I'd try to create parity between the two by moving some popular indoor summer games to the winter games but it's complicated. Sadly because of that its not quite the same festival of sport.

I think it also varies per country. I don't watch the Winter Olympics at all. Probably because I've only ever seen snow twice in my lifetime, so I can't be bothered with all the icy events. But I will admit, I enjoy curling, and if it's on tv I tend to watch it...

As for the Paralympics, I watch it because of a personal connection I have and the admiration I have towards the athletes, in that their disabilities didn't prevent them from competing or even doing sport.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

If Rio has proved one thing its that the Olympics / Paralympics are now so bloated and expensive that they should only be hosted by economically strong first world countries. That sounds horrible but it reflects stark financial realities; much though I love the sport, a country which has huge swathes of its population in poverty shouldn't be spending billions on a fortnight's sporting jamboree. Wrong priorities. How long before we see the images of the unused, decaying arenas?

Agree with the general Paralympic sentiments. More about the human spirit than competitive sport in my eyes, although in TRF_heineken's position I'm sure I'd see it differently.

 

[ratsapprentice]

If Rio has proved one thing its that the Olympics / Paralympics are now so bloated and expensive that they should only be hosted by economically strong first world countries. That sounds horrible but it reflects stark financial realities; much though I love the sport, a country which has huge swathes of its population in poverty shouldn't be spending billions on a fortnight's sporting jamboree. Wrong priorities. How long before we see the images of the unused, decaying arenas?

Agree with the general Paralympic sentiments. More about the human spirit than competitive sport in my eyes, although in TRF_heineken's position I'm sure I'd see it differently.

I don't think that's news to anyone... it shouldn't be anyway.

It's a great opportunity if you can afford it, and can properly plan for afterwards.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I don't think that's news to anyone... it shouldn't be anyway.

Well it had clearly escaped the Rio bid team and the IOC a few years ago...hopefully everyone's wised up since.

It's a great opportunity if you can afford it, and can properly plan for afterwards.

Rio couldn't. The legacy remains to be seen, but that was tough enough for London. At least there's an increasing trend away from white elephants to temporary arenas.

 

[ncurd]

I think the IOC failed dismally in awarding Rio the games and the Brazilians should of never have bid it.

You look at the time and it was way behind Madrid, Tokyo and Chicago in terms of rating (and Chicago wasn't that good). But we just had an Asian games and European ones were just about to go and the one previous to Beijing was European.
So the appeal of first south American games overwhelmed common sense. Plus factor in controversies on awarding Sochi and Salt Lake City.....

Personally after this I think any score below 7.5 on IOC working group should automatically disqualify a bid.

The candidate city must show it has the budget to host both Olympic and Paralympic games (the stories of Rio's Paralympic games are disheartening). Budget's must be based on Beijing, London & Tokyo actual costs taking account inflation and pre-existing infrastructure. Failure to do so is automatic disqualification from the process.


I'm all for passing the games around but money leads to a successful games you look and Greece/Rio then look at London, Beijing & Sydney. You can't help staging it costs money no matter the values it's why in mid-80's the entire amateur concept had to be ditched as well as rampant commercialisation of them.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Hope LA wins the 2024 bid.

Although it will no doubt be Paris.

 

[Tony Manx]

I'll remember this one for it clearly outing the Olympics as a corrupt event that goes against everything it supposedly stands for. Our Olympic committee were shown up as greedy assholes and the number of empty seats around suggest they weren't the only ones messing around like they did. The boxing was a farce and in the bantamweight class alone stole the opportunity to see two fights that would have been the best in the entire competition in Conlan v Stevenson and then Conlan v Ramirez. Add to that that it's entirely impossible to know who is doping or not and you've got a bit of a shallow games. I watched more than I thought I would but I was not impressed at all.

+1

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Hope LA wins the 2024 bid.

Although it will no doubt be Paris.

Wouldn't be so sure after the IOC signed a multi Billion TV contract with NBC. It's going to go back to the US sooner rather than later as they have not had it since 1996. Europe has hosted 3 of the last 7 Olympics.

At this stage LA and Paris are down as joint favourites. Paris will be gutted if they lose out yet again.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Anyone else find the post on the European Parliament Facebook page saying the EU has more medals than USA and China with the #strongertogether a bit cringe.

Especially stupid since the combined number of EU athletes far exceed any other nation and they have the chance to win multiple medals in every event... Yeah cringy. It would be interesting to know how a combined best of the EU team would do as individual EU nations aren't that great.

 

[die_mole]

I honestly don't think a USA city will host an olympics again... stadium financing has reached the boiling point with the people and unless a city already had everything in place the people will protest nonstop

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I honestly don't think a USA city will host an olympics again... stadium financing has reached the boiling point with the people and unless a city already had everything in place the people will protest nonstop

Hence LA being your best bet it has nearly everything already.

You have the
That $2 billion stadium.
Coliseum
Staples Basketball.
plenty of stadiums for Football (Soccer) and Rugby 7's in the area
Velodrome already built
Coast for all the beach and sea stuff
Convention centre can hold all kinds of crap
Top class College ares and Stadiums
and more and more.

TBH most of the more expensive stuff is already available in LA, It wouldn't interfere with many of the major sports Bar MLS and MLB.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Hope LA wins the 2024 bid.

Although it will no doubt be Paris.

I'd rather it was Paris, but I think the Bataclan, Charlie Hebdo, the Nice attack etc will all be too fresh in the memory. If nothing else IOC members know the meaning of self preservation.