Olympics 2016

Quote: Aussie

They are all big money munchers with the exception of LA in 84 which actually made a profit.

If we leave the Byalostock and Bloom method aside, then repeating hosts seems like the only option.

The 1986 sucker World Cup was to be held in Colombia. i forget exactly when, but it was sometime after 1982, the host country announced it wouldn't be able to do so. I've no idea what transpired, but in the end, around 1984 if memory serves, the Cup was awarded to Mexico, which had hosted it in 1970.

Mexico, though, had several large sucker stadia. Just the same, at elast two more were built (one in a Mex City suburb, Ciudad Neza, and one in Morelia). Pretty much all the rest were renovated or remodeled, and various cities got money to spend on new roads or renovating roads for the Cup (Mex City's freeway, BTW, was being repaved mid-Cup <roll-eyes>). And a media center was built (it's now an art museum, I think).

I think, though, the events left a great deal of money behind, as the investments were rather modest for a project of this kind.

If it is done right, I think money can be made, no matter the host country. National pride makes it difficult to not waste a ton of money on stuff that will not have a lasting impact when the games are over.

China's opening ceremony was the best there ever was, before or since. However, the "Bird's Nest" stadium, built specifically for the games, is only occasionally used now. In 1984, Los Angeles had the advantage of recycling their existing olympic stadium that was built in 1932. They simply dressed it up by hanging colorful banners around the top of the bowl.

With that in mind, perhaps permanent venues could be selected on each of the five major land masses, and the Summer games rotated between them every 20 years, with other "World Championship" events interspersed during the non-Olympic years?

The US Olympic team has voted
Michael Phelps will be the US flag bearer.

2 days to opening ceremonies
I'm excited
Go Katie Ledecky :-)

I'm excited too.

I'm a huge gymnastics fan.

Simone Biles is amazing - probably the best female gymnast ever. She could win five out of the six gymnastics golds this year...

Quote: ams288

I'm a huge gymnastics fan.

That would mean you watch gymnastics events more often than once every four years?

Quote: Nareed

That would mean you watch gymnastics events more often than once every four years?

Yep. I watch the American meets (elite level - not NCAA) and the World Championships every year.

Here is all you need to see to know how good Simone Biles is (with commentary by the lovely BBC people, who are so much better than the NBC commentators):

Quote: ams288

Yep. I watch the American meets (elite level - not NCAA) and the World Championships every year.

I'd no idea that was even possible.

Well its started already.
Been watching soccer
Portugal beat Argentina in a shocker
Now watching South Korea against Fiji

I turned to NBC for 60 sec. There
was a woman talking head telling
us there will be lots of music in
the opening tomorrow and she
was encouraging us to get up
wherever we were and dance to
the music like the people there
are doing.

That was the point I realized that
this 60 sec was all of the Olympics
I was going to watch unless I can
find out exactly what time womens
volleyball is airing. Good god I hate
shit like this..