Size matters...

[BorderBows]

If 1,300 million Chinese people can pull off the most amaizing feat of human application and showcase a stunning olympics at silly money an hour, imagine what cost the 2012's are really going to cost us at 5 quid odd an hour... The Beijing show was quite something, and how do you think we are going to match it or worse, Better it!

DO you think smaller counties are going to be able to match this level of national promotional marketting?

Do you think that the costs of these events are becoming inhibiting for normal countries?

Take that a step further... Do you think that Greggs the bakers are going to be able to afford Olymipic level advertising, or are global multi nationals like McDonalds going to clean the advertising boards of these smaller companies. Leaving them to pick up the scraps once its finnished? Does it matter where these huge events take place, when the local speciallities are blitzed by a homoginous Mc'd's. ( for example, every high street in britain has the exact same product on offer M&S, Argos, Boots, Halfords ect, so is there a need to travel?)

Do you think that Global spend is making the Olympics an elitist corporate event, rather than a showcase of sporting endevour?

For me the intro party outweighs the outstanding perfomance of the people at the heart! (which is where my question came from)

[Dave]

Funny you should mention Greggs, they used to sponsor one of our club shoots. Iirc, they pulled the sponsorship due to it costing them too much in pies, pasties and cakes....

In my (possibly ill informed) opinion the Olympics is just a large scale 'It's a Knockout' without the sense of humour and/or value for money.

[greygoose]

Hi,
What most people want to be a sporting event to compare the best athletes from all around the world has long since turned into a money making business enterprise and the show at the start is simply to atract a potential business creating audience. It is nothing but hype.
It is long overdue that the razmataz is markedly reduced or dropped and all effort applied to the competitions and the competitors.
This countries build up and staging of the games will coincide with what may well turn out to be a world wide economic slump if our "leaders" continue to talk the economy(s) down.
I hope that we will apply a good deal of not so common "common sense" for once and put our limited resorces into what matters most.
Greygoose

[BorderBows]

Originally Posted by greygoose

show at the start is simply to atract a potential business creating audience. It is nothing but hype.

couldnt agree more, the shame of the comercial world profiteering from government backed (peoples money) to make the stage for this. Its such a shame that these people who really put in the time and effort have been lost in the shadow, in my opinion by the show that was so well layed on for the spectators!
I know the dances that happened on the start, middle and end, but who one the 100meters, and in what time, i cant tell you, it just fizzled out in my mind.
no respect as i coulnt see the perfomance for the Coca-cola adverts. ( i beleave that China is one of their new to be developed territiories so they went to town on it)

[tony08]

In truth, there are few nations now able or willing to do it like China. The nation is a unique blend of capitalist mega-bucks and communist authoritarian control.
I don't think we'll see another games like that one anytime soon.

[Toxophilus_Archer]

I read somewhere a suggestion that the Olympics should be held in one place (Greece suggested) and different countries would be chosen to fund it. This would alleviate the problems of building new venues and there could be a format decided upon that would not cripple any nation. Perhaps something along this line would be the way to go. The other alternative would be to scrap the whole idea as there ie too much commercialism ruling the games and too much money required to put them on. There ara world championships in most sports so thes would have to suffice as it is increasingly difficult for the games to live up to what they were begun for when big business gets in the way. Many o the sports are now professional anyway which defeats the object!

[grimsby archer]

Originally Posted by Toxophilus_Archer

I read somewhere a suggestion that the Olympics should be held in one place (Greece suggested) and different countries would be chosen to fund it. This would alleviate the problems of building new venues and there could be a format decided upon that would not cripple any nation.

I've always thought the opposite, that the Olympics should be made global with different countries hosting the various events, so USA could hold the athletics whilst Italy hosts the pool events and GB holds the beach volleyball and BMX. The various countries could bid for the more prestigious events retaining the ancient tradition of the Olympic committee jetting off round the world on expensive jollies and receiving huge bribes, without overburdening any one country and allowing smaller countries to afford "little" events (eg luxembourg 10m airrifles)

For me the state of the olympics was expressed in a nutshell recently when athletes were criticised for naming their personal sponsors during interviews because they were not official olympics sponsors. No, these were just the sponsors who made it possible week in week out for the other 206 weeks of the year for these athletes to be athletes. Economics over performance.

[wanshu]

Why not ask each nation to contribute.....With each nation paying for their own slice of pie. Smaller nations with small teams would contribute less than the likes of China, Russia, USA who usually have the largest team numbers.

Pro Rata payments based on size and ability to pay......Wonder how many would cry poverty? UK can always raise money.....just repeat times of old by making Joe public pay more again with extra taxes.

The heavy influences of corporate media/marketing, invaded the Olympics many years ago as we see it today. At least since the advent of television and advertising. Trouble is its now an integral part of the funding system (extra funding....sponsorship) a growth that both feeds and feeds off those who struggle to be the best. Money like it or hate it....Its needed and it gets things done. With conditions, obviously. Depends how many hoops you're prepared to jump through.
I appreciate that there have always been hidden agenda's behind many sporting events going back hundreds and more years. Greeks and Romans would use games to make deals, bets gain favours. Nothing new today.

We will have to accept that business and sport, including the Olympics now go hand in hand. Money keeps increasing, as will the power it has over many things in sport. An individuals opinions or rights come a poor second.
One thing is for sure.....there are no guarantees....Money can't buy everything.