I think the modern Olympics are a colossal waste…

[MicaelS]

IMLHO, all the Olympics are is:

An excuse for a certain class of “boosters” in a different city, in a different country, every two years to puff out their collective chest and show off how “great” is their city and / or country.

To spend billions of dollars to bring people to that city, so they can be sold a bunch of crap, and charge wildly inflated prices for services.

To tax the hell out of, and inconvenience the life of the people who live in that city, so some in said city can make boatloads of money.

So the IOC can make boatloads of money off everyone in sight.

So some sports network can make boatloads of money off everyone in sight.

To have a bunch of transnationals spend a bunch of money hawking their crap.

To have a bunch of “amateur” athletes, using every bit of modern technology available, perform like a bunch of circus performers for the entertainment of the masses.

If it were up to me, I would pick two permanent sites, one for the Summer Games, and one for the Winter Games, maybe in the middle of nowhere. Build them especially for the needs of the Olympics, and keep them up as needed. That would save money in the long run, and sure as hell wouldn’t inconvenience the life of the people who just want to go about their daily business in their home city.

[get the red out]

1. I agree

I'm just not into it, really never have been.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

2. The Olympics: Showcasing everything that's wrong with the world. nt

[gopiscrap]

3. I agree, it's all about money! Fuck the Olympics!!!

[FSogol]

4. Completely disagree. Friendly competition between nations is a good thing.

Sports has the ability to bypass a lot of borders and boundaries.

[WCGreen]

5. It's a spectacle of world wide proportion that is somehow meant to "Unite" the world....

But it really is a chance for Russia, China and the US duke it out on the world stage through athletic competition...

In other words, so mid 20th century...

[WolverineDG]

12. Duking it out through the Olympics beats duking it out through bombs & nukes nt

[WCGreen]

20. Of course, but it got silly after a while

I remember watching the 72 Olympics and how much my friends and I grew up that summer. Between ninth grade and High School. We were devastated by what happened.

[bigwillq]

6. I love the Olympics

I like the Summer ones better. But I agree with your last statement. Build two sites.Like you said, I feel it will save money and not be such an inconvenience to residents of the cities.

[jp11]

7. I thought they happened every 4 years.

[Posteritatis]

10. Summer and winter games alternate every two years. (nt)

[MicaelS]

11. They are, but they're now "offset" by two years.

1992 was the last year both Summer and Winter Olympics occurred in the same year.

The Summer Games schedule was / is

1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020

The Winter Games Schedule was / is

1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022

[jp11]

17. Thanks, that is hilarious.

I had no idea, obviously, never paid any attention to the olympics other than to get annoyed when they interrupt my programming.

On another note how dare they do this crap every 2 years, surely every 4 is enough, jam winter and summer back together!

[KurtNYC]

8. but without the Olympics we wouldn't have the official french fry of the Olympic Games

or the official HFCS soft drink. How would we know which junk food to eat ?

Heck without the games Epogen would be strictly for sick people.

[Posteritatis]

9. At this point the Olympics are an example of everything that's wrong with the Olympics. (nt)

[RockaFowler]

13. I really like the Olympics

It's fun to watch. I love seeing some of the records being broken. Plus Ryan Lochte - end of discussion:

[Lint Head]

14. The fact that RMoney was involved is proof enough to

me that it's about money.

[truebluegreen]

15. Bingo! n/t

[Gregorian]

16. Monster carbon footprint.

Are we going to stop global warming? Where do we start? Maybe this is off topic, but where do we start? Building unnecessary towns for a bunch of athletes, and prancing horses, seems like a good place to start.

[Swede]

18. We should have more wars.

Let's end all sporting events.

[MatthewStLouis]

19. I disagree. I'll accept a little profiteering at the Olympics over war profiteering.

I love the Olympics! There is some patriotism involved, but mostly it's about individual stories of personal sacrifice and triumph. Give me individual events and friendly competition among amateur teams any day over pro (all for profit) sport$ like baseball, basketball and football.

[leftyohiolib]

21. i'd rather have a root canal than watch the olympics

do they still do the spear throwing - iron ball hurling and the frisbee throw. what a waste of perfectly good time

[rustydog]

22. How DARE you! USA! USA! USA! USA!!!!!

[jimlup]

23. I disagree... I think you are partially correct but

you are forgetting the athletes who do benefit from competing. I agree that the commercialization and nationalism has gotten to be a bit too much and this is particularly true for the USA but the athletes really do mark the Olympics as special.

I celebrate the Kenyan Gold Medal in the marathon and I think it provides a venue for athletes who would otherwise pretty much be ignored.