Olympic mud-slinging
Do you agree with this commentator’s extremely negative view of the Olympics? Is it only about politics and unbridled consumerism? Are you happy or sad that the
Olympics have not taken place (and likely will not) in Slovakia? Was all the hubbub over the hockey
championship worth it, for instance?
My family and I watch the opening ceremony of the Olympic games on television every two years (taking into consideration the winter and summer Olympics). Every time I see the ceremony I am absolutely thrilled by the performances, effects and arena where the games are held in. The Olympics are even more amusing and fancier every few years. However, I always ask myself that how much money must of been spent and question if the games are really worth it.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with the article on the “insanity“ of the Olympic games. I think that the whole concept of the games needs to be revisited. Billions are spent on sports facilities, transport, housing and other basics. This money can definitely be used in a better way in country that the Olympics are held.
Economy is bad when the elites organize something like the games and spend billions of taxpayer’s money on it instead of fixing the economy. The whole Olympics are overblown and obscene.
It definitely is a prestige for the country to hold the Olympic games. However, the organizers should realize that the whole point of the games to watch the best sport players compete, not countries to complete in having the fanciest arena and facilities. I agree with the article on the opinion of the Olympics loosing their purpose when everything is just about how much money is invested into them and how to make it look even nicer.
I am glad that the Olympics were never held in Slovakia. In my opinion our country definitely doesn’t have the money to pay for it all. Of course it would be a great prestige for our country but I don’t think that it is worth it. I also don’t think that Slovakia most likely won’t hold the Olympics in the future. Bigger, more powerful and influential countries have the honor of holding them and I don’t think that Slovakia belongs between them. However, who knows, maybe in time Slovakia grows into an economically powerful country and meets all the criteria for holding the Olympics.
Nina, I have to disagree with your reasoning. Contrary to popular belief, the Olympic Games are actually quite beneficial for a country. The thing is that the Games trigger a radical increase in tourism in the country, which benefits a lot of departments due to the fact that each foreign tourist family needs a place to stay, food and transport, not to mention the expensive Olympic Games tickets themselves. That being said, the Olympic Games often compensate their own cost by gaining funds from the tourists that visit the country for the Games. On top of that, the fact that a country is capable of hosting the Olympic Games indicates that the country is wealthy and has high development. This creates additional advertising for the country which might increase overall tourism.
DeleteThe reason why the Olympic Games weren’t held in Slovakia is because Slovakia’s infrastructure isn’t developed enough. Slovakia wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure of the Olympic Games and as a result chaos could arise.
Even though I am reluctant to accept the fact, I agree with the commentator’s view of the Olympics. The Summer Olympics in particular have displayed inappropriate propaganda in the recent years and in the history as well. It is the games in Beijing 2008 and Berlin 1936 that are worth mentioning. As the author himself wrote, these were organized just to demonstrate the power and the discipline of the repressive governments, or dictatorship in the case of nazi Germany.
ReplyDeleteThe role of the sport during the Olympics has long ago declined. He correctly claims that it is just an added extra today. I believe the true nature of the Olympic Games is still more or less present at the Winter Olympics. In most cases, these are organized in the countries which have the facilities needed even before the candidature. The games are usually not so megalomaniac, and no people have to be moved just to clear away the road for new infrastructure.
In my opinion, those who truly want to watch sports do not usually go to the games. They watch their favorite sport events at home rather than having to watch disciplines they are not interested in. The general public is not usually capable of choosing the tickets; it’s the elites who are.
To react to Andrej’s comment, the hosting of the Olympic Games does not necessarily reflect the host country’s wealth and high development. Greece, which organized Athens 2004 is the best example. The government just wanted to prove their abilities, probably going into a huge debt. The consequences are apparent, even though the Olympics are only a small part of that. However, it was proven the governments in Greece practiced the same attitude in other sectors as well. Furthermore, I read an article on the Olympics in Greece ‘8 years after’ few months ago. They described the deterioration the Olympic facilities have to face nowadays. Apparently, the country did not make use of the full potential of the event.
Lastly, I don’t think it’s fair to compare the ice hockey championship with the Olympics. Not only is hockey the number one sport in Slovakia, but it is also part of the country’s culture. On the other hand, the Olympics are more general. I don’t think that people in the host countries find it so natural to be proud in the time of such event, as we do in case of hockey.