The Olympics

[Justacrazyguy]

We need a topic for the Olympic games, don´t we?

[Sailor Star Dust]

Yep. :)

I'm gonna be watching in a few minutes. Apparently it's just talking so far (started at 7:30 EDT).

[Justacrazyguy]

Anyway, my favorite nations are Germany, Japan and Portugal.

They just showed this old man(Paul Mccartney) singing like a maniac. Every old man should have this guy´s energy.

Unfurtunatly, the "show" isn´t being has nice has the one in Beijing...

Make the Olympic games in Portugal dammit!

[ZapX]

I'm watching some kind of threeway between Tolkien, Dickens, and Wells. What the shit?

[InstrumentalityOne]

Tell me, did they whip out the Zeppelin or did the whole thing just suck

[Justacrazyguy]

Tell me, did they whip out the Zeppelin or did the whole thing just suck

Hum? It wasn´t bad. I mean, you weren´t expecting them to be able to beat the show in Beijing, right?

[ZapX]

The industrial revolution part was cool but after the queen jumped out of James Bond's helicopter and Mary Poppins killed Voldemort I tuned out.

[Justacrazyguy]

The industrial revolution part was cool but after the queen jumped out of James Bond's helicopter and Mary Poppins killed Voldemort I tuned out.

What?! I missed that!(I´d probably die of heart attack if I watched it)

[Monk Ed]

Most of the people who have posted in this topic so far are all the same age*. Relevance? None.

I'm not much for sports but I still enjoy the festive energy that comes with the Olympics. Four years ago I was on vacation at a lakeside house, playing games on my laptop up on a balcony while I could hear my family and relatives watching the games in the living room below. I enjoyed that atmosphere, if not the Olympics themselves.

By the way, four years ago the blackboard at the top of the page referenced the Olympics, and it remained there for a long while after the Olympics. Now that the Olympics are back, should we put one of the old lines back?

(* Note: This will change at midnight tonight. Or, technically, 11:32pm local time, but I was born one time zone over from where I am now.)

[Tankred]

Waste of money, waste of time. Just like most council projects (I.E. abstract art bullshit). We should of just refused when the shit hit the fan back during the financial crisis, but nooooooo.

[Twin Drive Sigma Aquarion]

Poor TR. *pats you on back* Look on the bright side, after the games your country might have bragging rights for a few years.

[Justacrazyguy]

Poor TR. *pats you on back* Look on the bright side, after the games your country might have bragging rights for a few years.

They´ve had the Olympic games 3 times. There is no longer fun in bragging, and if you do you´re just going to look like an idiot.

[CJD]

Waste of money, waste of time. Just like most council projects (I.E. abstract art bullshit). We should of just refused when the shit hit the fan back during the financial crisis, but nooooooo.

Oh hush you. The Olympics probably do more to promote cultural understanding and acceptance than any ad campaign ever could, and for that it's quite literally priceless.

Regarding the ceremony: It was good but I agree it had some low points.

[Twin Drive Sigma Aquarion]

I was referring to gold medals and performances.

[CorporalChaos]

Oh hush you. The Olympics probably do more to promote cultural understanding and acceptance than any ad campaign ever could, and for that it's quite literally priceless.

And that says nothing of the triumph of large commercial interests over local businesses. Or perhaps of the IOC over freedom of speech.

Anyway, I'm not going to be able to watch that much of the Olympics anyway, since I'll be doing field work for almost the entire duration.

[Alaska Slim]

^ I'd like to point out that the 1984 Olympics was ran like a business, more than paid for itself, and that L.A. (the host city) to this day still draws on the benefits from that.

This Olympics, to cost $4 Billion, actually cost $14 (so far). I feel sorry for the backs of the British subjects carrying this one, and amidst a double-dip recession no less.

acceptance than any ad campaign ever could

That's actually just quite how the 1984 Olympics turned a profit, Broadcasting Rights and ad revenue.

It's not impossible to do, you just got to take "ego" out of the decision-making.

[CJD]

And that says nothing of the triumph of large commercial interests over local businesses. Or perhaps of the IOC over freedom of speech.

Don't look at me. My entire point is that the Olympics aren't about money or an economy. If the Olympics generated zero revenue, was an entire economic loss, I'd still be for them even if they were going to be in my home town. What they provide is more valuable than any sum of money. Yea, shit like you link to sucks, but that's perpetuated by "necessity".

That's actually just quite how the 1984 Olympics turned a profit, Broadcasting Rights and ad revenue.

I think you misunderstood my remark. I was saying that no ad campaign is going to further cultural understanding and acceptance more than a concerted multinational effort like the Olympics, not remarking on the profitability of ads.

[Mr. Tines]

My entire point is that the Olympics aren't about money

This is Cracked.com being out-crassed by what's really happening in this country right now. And here's a more sober assessment.

It is of course possible for the Olympic Games to be held without placing a multi-billion loss to the public purse. You just have to start by not splurging on new special-purpose white-elephant infrastructure.

Related and less cynical --
http://media.talkingpointsmemo.com/slideshow/london-olympics-1948
http://media.talkingpointsmemo.com/slideshow/london-olympics-1908

[CJD]

You know what I meant.

[Alaska Slim]

I think you misunderstood my remark.

I did not, I'm saying, ads about togetherness and the greater good, with the Olympic label (and some given product, made by a sponsor), paid for the 1984 Olympics, and have helped to pay for several others before and since.

My entire point is that the Olympics aren't about money

Sure it is, just not for the people hosting it (typically). It's money for the sponsors, for the people buying & selling televised ad times, and...

I'm thinking you also missed the part where Malaysia was noted to be offering a gold bar for each of its athletes who win a Gold medal.

And they aren't the only nation offering bonuses.