XXXth Olympiad - London

[Relayer1]

Also, I bet he never eats out or goes to the movies, because the money could be spent for something more useful, like feeding children in Africa or something.

Not true, but there is a real difference between what I do and what is done with public money that should be spent for the common good.

As far as I can see, the British people are happy. I call that a common good.

Can't really argue with that - the feelgood factor was real, but it's not done anything with a tangible or lasting effect.

 

[MacLeod]

Also, I bet he never eats out or goes to the movies, because the money could be spent for something more useful, like feeding children in Africa or something.

Not true, but there is a real difference between what I do and what is done with public money that should be spent for the common good.

Define the common good, there are large parts of the UK that recieve little or no public money spent on them. Their level of public service is lower than other areas.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyFqlne4dqQ[/yt]

 

[Relayer1]

Also, I bet he never eats out or goes to the movies, because the money could be spent for something more useful, like feeding children in Africa or something.

Not true, but there is a real difference between what I do and what is done with public money that should be spent for the common good.

Define the common good, there are large parts of the UK that recieve little or no public money spent on them. Their level of public service is lower than other areas.

OK - the NHS, the rebuilding 'Schools for the Future' program or help for pensioners. Pretty much everyone must fit into one category or the other at some point...

 

[Ian Keldon]

Well, it's over, and NBC just had to flip the viewers the bird one last time by butchering the Closing Ceremonies. Tape delaying what many called the most-anticipated part of the ceremonies until AFTER "Animal Practice" and local news...a sad end to the worst produced (from a handling and broadcast standpoint), and worst calibur (from a gamesmanship standpoint) Olympics in modern history.

By the way, I agree with those who say that the games are very much a wasteful indulgence given the pressing problems of hunger, poverty, and lack of medical care.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I agree. Just like Star Trek. I hate that shit. A total waste of money. I spit on it!

 

[tomalak301]

While I admit being one of the complainers in terms of NBC's coverage, What they did last night was exactly what they did after the Vancouver games and what they will do for the Sochi and Rio games. Anyone remember Parenthood?

 

[Ian Keldon]

I agree. Just like Star Trek. I hate that shit. A total waste of money. I spit on it!

Hardly the same thing, and you know it.

 

[clint g]

Eh, yeah the Olympics are expensive and sure they don't MAKE money but there are still benefits. I imagine there are quite a few new sporting facilities that have been opened up or modernized as a result. That means there are more facilities for student-athletes and the people to use. Granted it doesn't have the same tangible benefit as giving food to the poor but having a brand new track and field area for the local colleges and universities to hold competitions isn't too terrible either.

 

[tomalak301]

So if the Olympics are a waste of money, should we just cancel them all? I always see people who lives in the Olympic host city say how they are a waste, yet they bring in tons of revenue in the tourism industry alone. I don't entirely know how all that works, but I would think that the city recoups at least some of what they paid to get the games. I mean I would love the Games to come to San Francisco (Or just around the Bay Area) just to experience it once. Yeah the traffic will suck, but you get the tourists, and public transportation gets quite a bit of revenue for these two weeks. Also, I think it would be cool to attend an Olympic games event.

 

[Deckerd]

They were obviously a success so the money wasn't wasted. It would have been a waste if the organisation had been shit and the whole thing was a huge flop.

 

[Angel4576]

Oh come on, let them have their say. Afterall, the serial whingers haven't had much to go on for the past couple of weeks.....

 

[Starkers]

Eh, yeah the Olympics are expensive and sure they don't MAKE money but there are still benefits. I imagine there are quite a few new sporting facilities that have been opened up or modernized as a result. That means there are more facilities for student-athletes and the people to use. Granted it doesn't have the same tangible benefit as giving food to the poor but having a brand new track and field area for the local colleges and universities to hold competitions isn't too terrible either.

I think there are all sorts of infrastructure improvements that have happened directly, or indirectly as a result of the Olympics. One example I see every day is the refurbishment and upgrading of Loughborough train station. It used to have short platforms, which meant you could only disembark from specific carriages, but because Loughborough was a base for so many athletes the station was upgraded. It's a big improvement and long overdue and the fact that it has happened now is in large part down to the games.

 

[Ian Keldon]

On the other hand, you have China, where the venues for the 08 games have already all but rotted away.

Olympic "revenues" are temporary, and do not meet the definition of legitimate economic development (development that continues to generate value for the community over the long term).

Olympics are "circuses" (as in "bread and circuses"). Flash extraveganzas designed to pump up the public mood and disguise the rot in their nations and cultures.

 

[Starkers]

Well there was an interesting article in the Metro this morning regarding what's happening to the Olympic village, unfortunately it doesn't seem to be online as far as I can see so I couldn't link to it, but the majority of the venues are being reused in some way.

 

[Lonemagpie]

What's interesting for those mentioning sports academies opening, and tourism, is that several sports centres have been shut down over the past month, rather than new ones opened, and UK tourism is down by a quarter!

 

[Deckerd]

I think they knew tourism would get a hammering, despite all the upbeat spin. No host country ever made anything but a loss in tourism.

 

[Starkers]

Although again it depends, will more people visit London/The UK in future because of the Olympics? I'm not saying that's the case, just suggesting it's something to consider.

 

[Deckerd]

Wishful thinking, really. The only caveat is that the long distance cycling and running showed off London at its very best. It looked lovely but that was partly because they stopped all the traffic.

 

[JayOwl]

Who the fuck is Beady Eye? At least I've *heard* of everybody else so far... Stop singing through your nose, cunt!

Half of Oasis- Liam Gallagher formed "Beady Eye" and Noel formed "Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds". You're right though, they're both cunts. And I really like their music.