The Olympics Desperately Needed Oslo To Host The 2022 Games, And The IOC Is Outraged They Pulled Out

[EX500rider]

Source: business insider

Oslo pulled its bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics after the Norwegian government balked at the estimated $5.4 billion cost on Wednesday.

That leaves Beijing and Almaty, Kazakhstan, as the only countries bidding for the games. In the months before Oslo pulled out, potential host cities in democratic nations across Europe — Poland, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland — also retracted their bids.

It's a debacle for the International Olympic Committee.

Oslo was the clear front-runner to win the 2022 games, at least based on the IOC's assessment of the competing bid applications.







Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/olympics-oslo-2022-olympics-2014-10

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Maybe they just need to pick one location like Lillehammer or Vancouver and have them there every time.

[Dawson Leery]

1. Good. Let the 2022 games be cancelled

The IOC is openly corrupt.

[RufusTFirefly]

4. Amen. The first step in breaking the cycle of IOC corruption begins with the word "No."

Or "Nei," in Norwegian.

[Dawson Leery]

8. Cancel the Olympics forever.

The fact that the IOC choice an open facsist, Juan Antonio Samaranch as their President, tells me everything.

[adieu]

23. Samaranch has been replaced since the 2008 Olympics

Thomas Bach, an Olympian himself (Fencing, representing W. Germany in the 80s) is a more honorable person and has trying to right the wrongs of Johnny-Tony.

[Calista241]

67. Yes, the IOC is corrupt

But it's nowhere nearly as corrupt as FIFA. And i enjoy watching the athletes every 4 years. Way to make the athletes suffer because of a corrupt governing body. That's like shutting down a city government because the major took a bribe.

[Dawson Leery]

68. Better for athletes to suffer than millions of taxpayers.

[brush]

52. Those photos from gone-to-the-weeds Athens stadiums are horrible

Looks like Greece spending 11 billion in hosting the '04 games has something to do with their austerity crisis.

Bet they could sure use that cash now.

The Olympics could be dying because of the outrageous demands placed on bidding nations by the IOC.

I'm sure those photos are scaring off bidders.

[Blue_Tires]

7. +1

The games have been nothing but a cash grab for organizers and the IOC for awhile now, and the price tag seems to go up 50% every four years...And I'm not including the hundred million in bribes cities have to spend just to GET THE BID...

[gopiscrap]

32. Agreed!

[Javaman]

43. +1000. Good for Oslo. Finally a nation and a city that understands the racket. nt

[paulkienitz]

2. "pick one location" has also been suggested for the summer games

with the obvious choice being Athens. But they haven't yet reached a crisis point in terms of lameness, so I guess the winters should go first.

Maybe they could rotate between like three well-maintained sites.

[brer cat]

3. I agree.

With all the problems in the world, putting on the Olympics is a colossal waste of money and resources. I really don't think many countries can possibly afford it any more (if they ever could).

[frylock]

9. have you seen these pics?

http://www.businessinsider.com/2004-athens-olympics-venues-abandoned-today-photos-2012-8?op=1

[Xithras]

5. I don't know about "one" location...

but it does make sense to narrow it down to a few. One of the problems with the Olympics is that nations spend massive amounts of money to build these facilities, and then they just get abandoned or torn down afterward. It's a huge waste of money. It would make more sense to let the cities of the world compete to host the Olympics on a rotating basis over an extended number of years. When the facilities in one nation finally do wear out and need replacement, that nations spot can be opened back up so that all the cities of the world can compete for it again.

If, as an example, three cities were chosen to host the Summer Olympics, each city would get to host it once every 12 years. Presuming that the facilities lasted 50-60 years or so, that would give each city 4-5 Olympic games to recoup its investment.

[LeftyMom]

35. They could also stick to areas where very little would be needed.

I don't know why they don't host the summer olympics (or the world cup, for that matter) in the Baeria more often. There are already stadium facilities, hotels and transit. They might need to upgrade a few things like swim facilities but the colleges could use them afterward.

Makes a hell of a lot more sense than building all that shit from scratch on former favelas and nature preserves in Brazil.

[Codeine]

41. Baeria?

Forgive my ignorance, but where is that?

[LeftyMom]

48. Joke about local pronounciation: the bay area.

San Francisco, Oakland, etc.

[Codeine]

53. Oh, that makes sense. Thanks! nt

[amandabeech]

55. Isn't the Bay Area gearing up for a bid for 2024 or 2028,

that is if the IOC cleans up its act and the games are held?

I think Boston, DC and LA are also interested. I'm in the DC area, but it seems that all four possible locations have many of the venues and could use or repurpose many others. The two things that DC has against it is its horrid summer climate and already crazy security. Boston and your area are much better.

Building everything from scratch for one competition is ridiculous. And the rules! "Seasonal fruits and cakes"?????

[justhanginon]

6. Effing worthless boondoggle at the taxpayers expense. Let

the networks pay for their own programming and not half bankrupt a country for this. It always seem rife with graft, corruption and bribery. Maybe they should let congress sponsor it! They have the experience and them handling it seems fitting to me.

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. I agree with the third paragraph.

well, at least the first three words.

$5.4 billion? That's beyond nuts.

[Diclotican]

11. EX500rider

EX500rider

The problem is that most people in Norway - do not want to have Olympic games - on the ground that IOC have some outrageous demands for the Olympic games... If they rescind their outrageous demands - it might be a different tone to it - but as it is - most people in Norway have no stomage for the estimated 5.4 billion NRK for the games - and it is rumored it would be at least a couple of billions more expensive - as the Lillehammer games in 1994 was rather on the expensive side - and then we had the good fortune of having a extremely great winter - with a lot of snow... A few years before it was not a single snow flake in sight at Lillehammer - but right before OL - the snow just started to flow - and it continued true the OL - and most of the winter - and it was rather cold too - when I was at Lillehammer - in the morning it was 18 below C - midday it was just between 5 and 10 below C - almost warm with other means....

And of course - it pissed off the swedish - who had to envy us our good luck - and our athlets who was rather splendid doing their job - we might not won all the gold medals in 1994 - but we beat the sweedes hard and low (Norway and Sweden have a friendly banting between us - who have repleased war, and it is a saying - we might not win - but as long as we beat Sweden, then most pepole is happy)

Diclotican

[Sognefjord]

39. O the poor Swedes!! LOL. I still want to see Norway in more Winter Olympics.

But who knows what will happen now.

[Diclotican]

61. Sognefjord

Sognefjord

So true - I guess we will get a Olympic some time down the road - but I doubt we want to do it this time around - if the leaders of IOC act responsible and rescind some of their Demands - who is far from what we think is reasonable...

Diclotican

[MrsMatt]

59. The Swedish/Norwegian rivalry also crossed the Atlantic

my grandfather emigrated from Sweden to Minnesota as a 15 year old (1906). My hometown had many first and second generation immigrants from both Norway and Sweden, and there were a lot of good-natured jokes about the stupidity of the native inhabitants of the other country.

[Diclotican]

60. MrsMatt

MrsMatt

So true - one of the things swedes and Norwegians tend to cross into every corner of the world - Your grandfather must have been some person, who was traveling to US aged 15... But then again - in 1906 both Sweden and Norway was some of the poorest countries in the world - today Sweden and Norway is on the opposite end - and also peacefully - in fact Norway and Sweden have been at peace with each others for 200 years now - since we had our peace treaty going back to 1814 - when Norway got into a union with Sweden - even if we kept our Constitution at least...

And indeed - we have some good natured jokes about the Swedes - or in the opposite end - Norwegians - it is a better way of making peace I guess than other means -and it all goes back to the fact that we doesn't want another war

Diclotican

[Xolodno]

12. Winter Olympics were always my fav..

...having said that, yeah...GOOD!!!!

The IOC wants more and more extravagance at the expense of tax payers. They finally need to know they've jumped the shark.

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. $5.4 billion is about $1 million per competitor

including the Paralympic competitors. Sochi numbers:

Athletes: About 2,850 from 89 countries -- with India being let back into the Games on February 11 -- plus 1,650 Paralympians from 45 countries

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/08/world/europe/russia-sochi-numbers/

That would be $1.2 million per competitor - say they expect a few more by 2022, and it's about a million each.

[StevieM]

14. I just don't see how they can hold the Olympics in Beijing, given how bad the pollution is there

during the winter.

That doesn't mean that they won't give it to them. But I think it would be a big mistake.

Ironically, if the USOC had put forward an American bid, from Denver or Boston, they would have won it in a walk.

[iandhr]

17. Boston I think is more interested in the summer games.

Lord knows the city doesn't have a shortage of sporting venues.

[StevieM]

21. They have committees and websites for both games, Summer 2024 and Winter 2026

As I mentioned below, the host of the winter games is often quite a distance from the mountains. And Boston also has the venues that they would need in order to host the Winter Olympics.

http://www.2024boston.org/

http://www.bostonwinterolympics.com/

[cascadiance]

28. What about Detroit? They have the most bids for the Summer games without getting to host one...

Maybe the winter games might work better for them.

And perhaps winning an olympic bid, and getting a lot of money being spent to build up the infrastructure and give it an economic boost around there might be just what Detroit needs to help rebuild itself after being in such a mess for years.

[StevieM]

30. I would definitely like to see Detroit turn around but the Summer Olympics are extremely expensive.

I am not sure if it is possible for any U.S. city other than NY or LA to host them anymore.

The Winter Olympics might be more financially feasible, but I don't know what resources they have nearby for skiing.

[cascadiance]

31. I think they could... They have the snow making machine company for Sochi in Michigan...

http://www.mlive.com/business/mid-michigan/index.ssf/2014/02/smi_snow_makers_of_midland_cre.html

They host the Michigan winter games there that has alpine events in it. It's in western Michigan, but I think people have had to travel farther for events in other venues too. Might still need some face lifts for an Olympic crowd, but I'd bet it was doable. And as I note, if they could help build up Detroit and surrounding area's infrastructure there where more people might come in for winter sports in off years, it might be money well spent.

http://rivergrandrapids.com/the-meijer-winter-state-games-are-this-weekend-in-west-michigan/

I think the Detroit area would be a good one to bring out hockey fans and other ice skating fans as well.

[amandabeech]

56. The "mountains" around Grand Rapids are bunny hills.

The only ski areas that could conceivably be used for the Alpine events are in the western Upper Peninsula. They are a very, very long distance from Detroit and they are very, very difficult to access due to a lack of airports and mountains of snow.

There would be no problem with having enough rinks for hockey, figure skating and curling, within 45 miles of Detroit, though.

From a Michigan native.

[sabbat hunter]

65. where would they hold the

alpine events? There aren't exactly any mountains anywhere near Detroit.

Bring the winter Olympics back to Lake Placid, NY!

[DinahMoeHum]

15. Reading the link, there are "IOC technical manuals" available. . .

. . .courtesy of a Norwegian newspaper called VG:
(If you have a Google translator, so much the better)

http://www.vg.no

http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/ol-2022/sp-veteran-norge-maa-vurdere-aa-boikotte-ol/a/23308066/

And here are the "technical manuals", in English:
http://www.ol22.no/en/documents-and-downloads

I don't know if anybody here will find "smoking guns" or anything, since I don't have the time to dive into all this. If anybody else wants to, have at it.

[iandhr]

16. What about Lillehammer?

They hosted 1994 games. It's still a pretty big winter sports venue. If cost is the main issue they can probably retrofit some arenas instead of building all news stuff. Or maybe they can get the IOC to pitch in some of the cost.

By the way how can the winter olympics be held in Beijing?

[StevieM]

19. The mountains don't have to be in the city that is hosting them.

For example, Boston is looking to bid for 2026, but the skiing and other snow events would take place in Vermont and New Hampshire. The Vancouver Olympics were quite a distance from the mountains of Whistler.

The big problem with Beijing is that the pollution in the winter time is an absolute nightmare.

I like your idea about Lillehammer. Salt Lake City might also be an option, if Norway just isn't willing to host them.

[Diclotican]

25. iandhr

iandhr

The OL at Lillehammer - was for the most part - over budget - and it was some issue about it all should be used - after the olympic - but we had the luck of having one of the best winter of the decade - in 1994 - with enough snow (to put it midly) and also it was cold - just a few years before - it had been raining all winter - and it was seen as a nightmare how to make at least the areas where the games was held getting some snow so it was not a utter diaster - but as it was - the winter of 1993-94 was one of the decades - cold and snow rich - and the games was rather sucessfully as many of our best athlets really did a great job in making sure the gold medals was raining in - and it was some of a "party for everyone" also - it was not just for the "specailly invited" - but rather for everyone - and it was seen botn in Norway - but also way out in the world - as a sucess for Norway and the games...

And most of the areas have been used after the games - as it was stated as one of the reasons to build it was to use it also after the olympic games - it also did a lot for the infrastructure of the whole area - as it was spread over a large area - and all of the infrastructure was made posible as an result of the infrastructure for the games - in that perspective - the game was a sucess in Mjøsområdet - (it is called so - becouse of the lake, who is called Mjøsa who is kind in the middle of it all - and is one of the largers lakes in Norway)

Diclotican

[iandhr]

27. got it thank you

[Diclotican]

29. iandhr

iandhr



Diclotican

[TreasonousBastard]

18. Talk to Putin...

after he blew 50 billion the last time, he might want to get some of it back.

They didn't tear all that crap down in Sochi, yet, did they?

[TygrBright]

20. Well, and whatever could you object to in Almaty, Kazakhstan?

Sound lovely!

I'm sure they'd welcome the Games warmly.

Why EVER not?

mischeviously,
Bright

[Xithras]

57. Kazakhstan is a lovely country...when the air is clear.

On one hand, I'd actually like to see the Olympics in nations like Kazakhstan. It might encourage travel and investment to nations that actually need it. Kazakhstan is a beautiful and relatively modern country that is generally unknown to most westerners.

On the other hand, this is a NON-PHOTOSHOPPED picture of Almaty in winter. The city sites in a valley with a nasty inversion layer and almost makes Beijing look clean by comparison....

[24601]

64. Borat could light the torch!

[JI7]

22. i thought Romney saved the winter olympics

[Oldtimeralso]

38. Didn't He Say They Made A Profit.

All we have to do is check the books, after all he is an astute businessman.

[hughee99]

66. By "they" does Romney mean "the Olympics"

Or "Romney and friends"?

[Gman]

24. I'm sure Jamaica would host the winter games

?itok=3IFk-lgG

[cascadiance]

26. There would be some big money for a snow making machine company if they could pull that off!

[gopiscrap]

33. Ha Ha I loved it.

[underpants]

34. Michael Phelps would eagerly find a winter sport athlete

[SCVDem]

36. I wonder how many cities cannot hold the games?

Climate change will change where the snow falls.

If it falls at all. Wasn't Sochi a little lacking?

[EX500rider]

49. "Wasn't Sochi a little lacking?"

I remember some Russians making jokes about how they picked the one place in Russia where it doesn't snow all winter...lol

[roamer65]

37. I'm sure Calgary or Vancouver would like to have them again.

Let Canada host them. They did a good job with the 1988 and 2010 games.

[Cayenne]

40. Anchorage should apply again

They had bid before and lost out to Lillehammer.

[geek tragedy]

42. Veddy nice-ah.

[EX500rider]

50. Borat: Olympics of Winter for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan?

[mainer]

44. And Oslo can well afford it. Imagine how tough it is for poorer countries to host.

Norway is one of the wealthiest nations, per capita, in the world. Rich in oil, they did something we wouldn't dream of doing -- they nationalized their oil industry and use it to fund the common good. Instead of any Koch brothers sucking up the wealth, every Norwegian is well taken care of.

They have too much common sense to waste money on a boondoggle like the Olympics.

[AngryAmish]

45. Norway being level-headed again.

Please, please, please send it to Kazakstan. It will be like the time 4chan sent Pitbull to Kodiak Island.

[oberliner]

46. Supposedly the IOC had some ridiculous demands for the host country

See this article for more details:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/10/02/ioc_demands_oslo_drops_bid_after_over_the_top_list_of_requirements.html

[mainer]

47. These demands are hilarious -- AND insulting

The IOC deserves to go to Kazakhstan.

[EX500rider]

51. Come now...these all sound perfectly reasonable...

.....if you are Emperor of the Galaxy..

They demand to meet the king prior to the opening ceremony. Afterwards, there shall be a cocktail reception. Drinks shall be paid for by the Royal Palace or the local organizing committee.
Separate lanes should be created on all roads where IOC members will travel, which are not to be used by regular people or public transportation.
A welcome greeting from the local Olympic boss and the hotel manager should be presented in IOC members' rooms, along with fruit and cakes of the season. (Seasonal fruit in Oslo in February is a challenge ...)
The hotel bar at their hotel should extend its hours “extra late” and the minibars must stock Coke products.
The IOC president shall be welcomed ceremoniously on the runway when he arrives.
The IOC members should have separate entrances and exits to and from the airport.
During the opening and closing ceremonies a fully stocked bar shall be available. During competition days, wine and beer will do at the stadium lounge.
IOC members shall be greeted with a smile when arriving at their hotel.
Meeting rooms shall be kept at exactly 20 degrees Celsius at all times.
The hot food offered in the lounges at venues should be replaced at regular intervals, as IOC members might “risk” having to eat several meals at the same lounge during the Olympics

[SwankyXomb]

54. The Smoking Gun

should add this to their list of ridiculous tour riders.

[elleng]

58. or ATHENS!

[workinclasszero]

62. Cancel it

This world is too dangerous and the Olympics are too big a world stage for every terrorist gun humping decapitating terrorist to pass up.

[onenote]

63. The games are in 2022.