Are the Olympics Being Boycotted to Protest the US? Probably!

[donsu]

http://www.democrats.com/

Why won't ANYONE point out the big fat elephant in the Athens "living room"? Namely, the tens of thousands of empty seats at the Olympics that represent, most likely, a boycott of the games. Despite Bob Costas' jingoistic coverage (the way NBC presents it, there are no other athletes competing or winning but Americans, with a few "furriners" thrown in for effect), Americans are VERY unpopular in Europe right now. In this article it suggests the empty seats are because Greeks are "unfamiliar" with many of the sports. Yet that didn't stop the stadiums from being filled in Seoul or Mexico City, which could more legitimately offer this excuse. But then, the US didn't turn those game sites into military compounds! Time to stop making excuses and deal with our sadly tarnished image and the Bush hatred that is now hurting everyone, including our athletes.

and this article:

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3354975

Deserted Stadiums - But Games Ticket Sales 'Doing Well'

-snip-

Attendances at the Games – billed as “the greatest show on earth” – are causing concern with some competitions in almost empty arenas.

Venus Williams was watched by just 500 fans when she played her opening match of the tennis event against Melinda Czink on Sunday.

The Panathinaiko Stadium, where Paula Radcliffe will hope to win a gold medal in the women’s marathon next Sunday, was close to deserted when the archery began and there have been empty stands at the softball and baseball.

-snip-


The Greeks are banking on crowds picking up when the main athletics begins on Friday.

“We are confident that Greeks will flow to the stadium, as well as international visitors,” said Zacharatos.

He denied ATHOC was going to give away free tickets to fill the stadiums.
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[nickinSTL]

1. not surprised

It's hard to get ANYTHING out of the NBC coverage, since they try as hard as possible to avoid showing anything but Americans. It's really annoying.

I'd give anything to be able to watch Eurosport (if it's like what I remember)

[Rich Hunt]

2. maybe they're afraid?

Maybe they're afraid of terrorism? But I doubt it.

But there were good crowds for internationally popular sports, like swimming. Gymnastics and softball don't fit that category.

[nycmjkfan]

3. From what I've heard...

Ticket sales have been in line with those of the games of Barcelona and Seuol, but behind the standards set by Atlanta and Sydney.

I just think people in Athens don't really give a hoot. Supposedly many have gone on holiday in order to get out of the City during the games.

[hatrack]

4. Couple of possibilities

1. Tickets are too damned expensive, and people aren't willing to pay for what they can see on television while relaxing at home.

2. It's too damned expensive to visit for foreigners. According to an NPR report this morning, hotel prices have tripled and quadrupled for the period when the Olympics are on, and one correspondent, staying in a five-star hotel, reported paying $1,600 per night. Who the HELL can afford that?

3. It's summer vacation season in Greece, a time when it's not unusual for Athens residents to head for the beaches or up into the mountains where it's cool. This month, more than usual may have decided to do just that and beat the crowds back home.

4. People are tired of having to go through security checkpoints, tired of having their bags searched, tired of being wanded, tired of dealing with police and soldiers every time they try to get across town. Why would they want to now pay high ticket prices for the same privilege?

5. Lots of Greeks are pissed off at the spectacle of hundreds, possibly thousands of foreign soldiers and police on the streets, in the air and on the seas surrounding their country. Most of them understand the need for security, of course, but they're still not happy about these massive deployments.

[Kellanved]

5. I'm not aware of any boycott

The empty seats have many reasons; while many tickets for the "less interesting" events were given away in Sydney, that hasn't happened yet in Athens.
And Australia is a stronger nation in the summer games, so it is no wonder that there was a larger Fan-Base in Sydney.
Another important point is the heat: for many visitors it is too hot to attend the day-time events.