serious discussion only

[PMH]

now for the sake of Quigs I would like to start a purely serious no shit hanging thread...so here goes

ok so who is enjoying the olympics...and does it inspire anyone

cheers

Harvs

ps JD and Craig...anyone who ruins this thread should be suspended for 5 days

[PMH]

see obviously no-one wants a discussion without sledging

sorry Quiggs

[Gooey]

i quite enjoy the beach volleyball and waterpolo!!

[PMH]

i quite enjoy the beach volleyball and waterpolo!!

I'm a fan of the synco swimming myself

[JD]

Gotta be the Roman Wrestling, Greco style. Female competition, preferably in Jelly.

Actually, I think the whole Olympic thing sucks. The opening ceremony (as spectacular as it was) cost $300,000,000. This is absurd. Imagine the famine relief, or medical supplies that could be bought. We seriously need to sit down and have a long hard look at ourselves. Look at the following:

Year  City           Constant$($M)       NOCs             Athletes                Cost/Athlete
1936 Berlin          $352.94                 49                 4,066                     $86,804
1948 London        $19.09                  59                 4,099                       $4,657
1956 Melbourne    $78.22                  67                 3,184                      $24,567
1960 Rome          $374.74                 83                 5,346                       $70,097
1964 Tokyo         $9,678.93              93                 5,140                    $1,810,499
1968 Mexico City  $787.75               112                 5,530                      $142,450
1972 Munich        $2,283.02            121                 7,123                      $320,513
1976 Montréal      $2,430.00             92                  6,028                     $403,118
1980 Moscow       $3,787.88             80                  5,217                     $726,064
1984 Los Angeles  $819.82              140                  6,797                     $120,615
1988 Seoul          $5,339.05            159                  8,465                     $630,720
1992 Barcelona    $7,803.79             169                 9,367                      $833,115
1996 Atlanta       $1,686.00             197                10,310                      $163,530
2000 Sydney       $2,279.03             200                10,651                      $240,829
2004 Athens        $11,000.00           201                10,558                     $1,041,864
2008 Beijing        $40,000.00            204                10,700                    $3,738,318

Sydney cost $240,829 per athlete, Beijing is $3,738,318 per athlete, 15 times MORE!!!!!!!!!!!
Why do we do this? China is trying to put on such a spectacular, we are going to forget its human rights disasters. I know I wont.


JD

[PMH]

Gotta be the Roman Wrestling, Greco style. Female competition, preferably in Jelly.

Actually, I think the whole Olympic thing sucks. The opening ceremony (as spectacular as it was) cost $300,000,000. This is absurd. Imagine the famine relief, or medical supplies that could be bought. We seriously need to sit down and have a long hard look at ourselves. Look at the following:

Year  City           Constant$($M)       NOCs             Athletes                Cost/Athlete
1936 Berlin          $352.94                 49                 4,066                     $86,804
1948 London        $19.09                  59                 4,099                       $4,657
1956 Melbourne    $78.22                  67                 3,184                      $24,567
1960 Rome          $374.74                 83                 5,346                       $70,097
1964 Tokyo         $9,678.93              93                 5,140                    $1,810,499
1968 Mexico City  $787.75               112                 5,530                      $142,450
1972 Munich        $2,283.02            121                 7,123                      $320,513
1976 Montréal      $2,430.00             92                  6,028                     $403,118
1980 Moscow       $3,787.88             80                  5,217                     $726,064
1984 Los Angeles  $819.82              140                  6,797                     $120,615
1988 Seoul          $5,339.05            159                  8,465                     $630,720
1992 Barcelona    $7,803.79             169                 9,367                      $833,115
1996 Atlanta       $1,686.00             197                10,310                      $163,530
2000 Sydney       $2,279.03             200                10,651                      $240,829
2004 Athens        $11,000.00           201                10,558                     $1,041,864
2008 Beijing        $40,000.00            204                10,700                    $3,738,318

Sydney cost $240,829 per athlete, Beijing is $3,738,318 per athlete, 15 times MORE!!!!!!!!!!!
Why do we do this? China is trying to put on such a spectacular, we are going to forget its human rights disasters. I know I wont.


JD

is life that black and white though....there needs to be a balance across the world

[leaky]

waiting waiting

[PMH]

waiting waiting

for what this is a seriousdiscussion!!!!!

[JD]

Yes in this case it is that black and white. Spending 300 Million dollars to make China look good in front of all the dignitries and diplomats at the opening ceremony is a disgrace. Could they have done something nice for half that? Sure, not as impressive with a roll out LCD panel on the floor, but nice none the less. Considering how they treat citizens of China, I think it sucks.

JD

[PMH]

Yes in this case it is that black and white. Spending 300 Million dollars to make China look good in front of all the dignitries and diplomats at the opening ceremony is a disgrace. Could they have done something nice for half that? Sure, not as impressive with a roll out LCD panel on the floor, but nice none the less. Considering how they treat citizens of China, I think it sucks.

JD

my point is that that could be the same for any country that spends money on such things...but in the reral world life isn't that cut and dry. I agree with you about how they treat the people of tibet, but this is about sport not politics...(should we can the the AFL Grand Final because Victorians view crows supporters like second grade citizens)

Jokes aside the point I'm making is that the world can't stop functioning because of humand rights issues...saying they shouldn't spend that much well ok then how much should they have spent? was the IOC wrong to give them the games some 8 yrs ago?

there is no right or wrong answer here but the games must go on! after all who else would buy the roids.

[onwardsupwards]

With Jarrod on this one. Olympics has been bastardised by commercialism,drugs, we have to do it bigger outlook. Have great respect for the athletes that go through training above and beyond anything we could dream of doing. Seems to be some signs that London may return some sanity.

[Craig]

well...isn't it a case of - if you'll excuse the term - "onwards & upwards"...? Each strives to be better than the last.

But isn't that what we as the general public expect, nay, demand?

If they turned it down everyone would say it wasn't as good as the last one & the Chinese would lose face - not the done thing in Asian society - so they've gotta turn it up to 11 & knock everybody's socks off.

In China's case as really an emerging power they would also want to show how well they can do it & that they can do it just as well or better than the r(w)est.

As for the human rights issues, are we blindly f(sw)ollowing what we're fed by western media?

hmm...more questions than answers perhaps...

As for what I'm watching...womens basketball at the moment. Beach volleyball the other day. A bit of weightlifting on SBS. Archery was actually quite interesting as well.

On that note would you not think that 7, with it HD channel & 3 other digital channels, should show a variety of sports on each rather than the same thing on every bloody one? Sure show the swimming on HD & 1 of the SD channels for those that can't get the HD but then put other stuff on the other channels. All good if you want to watch the Aussies play but what about the rest of the world. Who wouldn't want to watch the two best teams in the world (not Aussies) have a go at each other at <insert sport here> in addition to the normal Aussie stuff. USA & Russia have a bit of biffo on the hockey pitch for example.

Now, what about ditching the green & gold for the opening ceremony outfits & kitting the boys & girls out in the leftover outfits the volunteers used at the Sydney Olympics. Bloody un-Australian...

hmmm...I can hear another glass of red calling my name...

[JD]

If they turned it down everyone would say it wasn't as good as the last one & the Chinese would lose face - not the done thing in Asian society - so they've gotta turn it up to 11 & knock everybody's socks off.

In China's case as really an emerging power they would also want to show how well they can do it & that they can do it just as well or better than the r(w)est.

As for the human rights issues, are we blindly f(sw)ollowing what we're fed by western media?

For the first 2 comments, the question is why? Why do they have to use a sporting event to make themselves and the world feel great and forget about the atrocities that go on?

The second comment is a blinder! Lets compare the Chinese media to the western media, and try to work out which one is propoganda shall we? The Chinese get fed only the information the government wants them to know, nothing more. The Internet is blocked by what is known as 'The Great Firewall'. The Government can shut down all communications including mobile phone networks when unrest occurs. When you arrive at a hotel, they scan your passport which is sent directly to the local police station. Would someone of a foreign media be able to run through China and get the real story? They are not allowed, by law, to interview anyone without ploice consent, and have the power to veto whatever they like. Chinese media or spin doctors? Same thing.

JD

[Craig]

bait - cast - reel reel reel

[PMH]

bait - cast - reel reel reel

beep beep beep....is that Craig reverse beeper I can hear?