Photo's 10 years after the olympics in Beijing........wow

[a kennedy]

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/beijing-abandoned-olympic-venues/index.html

[Fred Sanders]

1. Not really....a couple of stadiums and a dozen pictures of the same mascots in the bushes?

And the canoeing course just needs a little water.

[lapfog_1]

2. Saw a video on Sochi as well

abandoned and falling apart... sad to see so much money and resource gone to waste

Years ago, during the height of the PIGS crises (Portugal, Iceland, Greece, and Spain) I postulated that maybe Athens should have an international contribution to maintain their Olympics venue and that every 4 years we should simply hold the summer Olympics in Greece.

As for Winter Olympics... we need a place that will reliably have adequate snow and cold temps for the next 100 years...

And I don't have a suggestion for that... maybe Norway or Sweden again. Or maybe someplace in the Southern hemisphere.

But moving the Olympics around and spending billions of dollars to build these temporary sports venues and apartments, etc is simply silly.

[northoftheborder]

3. I totally agree with the above.

There should be just a few permanent places for the Olympics, with participating countries helping to maintain the facilities.

[shanny]

4. These events are just another way of siphoning off money

from taxpayers to line the pockets of rich people. FIFA is no better, in fact probably worse.

https://www.businessinsider.com/rio-olympic-venues-are-abandoned-just-6-months-after-games-2017-2

https://says.com/my/sports/here-s-what-happened-to-stadiums-after-world-cup-matches

I'm in favor of a permanent location in Greece for the summer games, and maybe a rotating location for the winter ones--although who knows how long our climate will provide reliable snow, anywhere. I just think there are many more important things to spend money on than these gaudy spectacles. I'd rather watch the athletes.

[Brother Buzz]

6. The 1984 L.A. Summer Olympics being the exception - It made money (a lot) and used no tax money

Two words - Peter Ueberroth

For five years Ueberroth served as the organizer of the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles. He was a prominent figure in the games, receiving the Olympic Order in gold at its conclusion. Due to the success of the games, he was named Time magazine's Man of the Year in 1984. Under Ueberroth's leadership and management, the first privately financed Olympic Games resulted in a surplus of nearly US$250 million. This was subsequently used to support youth and sports activities throughout the United States. Coincidentally, he was born on the day on which the founder of the modern Olympic Games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, died.

Ueberroth created a committee of over 150 members (mostly business people and entrepreneurs) to generate ideas, opportunities and solve problems. His aggressive recruiting of sponsors for the 1984 Olympics is credited as the genesis for the current Olympic sponsorship program. Due to recruiting competitors between the Los Angeles Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), after 1984 all Olympics in the US had their local organizing committees enter into recruitment agreements with the USOC to jointly recruit sponsors and share revenues.

[shanny]

7. A single exception, I agree--more than 30 years ago

[procon]

5. What a -- repeated! -- utter waste of money, labor and resources.

The Olympics Inc., is a big, profitable, private business that is, inexplicably funded by cash strapped countries seeking fleeting fame and TV contracts. That whole concept needs to change.

The PTB of the Olympics organization should pick two permanent venues for their sporting games and solicit international partners to fund the construction. The business of the Olympics Inc., owns the broadcast and bling rights, so it's a very profitable opportunity for investors. As an entertainment destination for tourists, the addition of high end accommodations and first class packaged trips to the spectacular shows would also bring in money to the hosting countries.

The countries participating in the games could build their own permanent facilities for their athletes and visitors with separate investors, broadcast and marketing options. Everyone gets a shot at profiteering off the hard work of the athletes, all of whom should be paid for their efforts.