Reflecting on my earlier blogpost about the Olympic Games, I have thought up an alternative vision for the Olympics for the future.
Instead of having the Games at different cities every 4 years and spending huge amounts of money building up facilities with the attendant dislocation, scrutiny of host country’s policies and politics and creating publicity disasters, why not select a city in a poor African Country and build permanent facilities there so the Olympic Games can be held there every four years.
The construction of the facilities can be sponsored by the Multi-National Corporations and Sports Equipment Manufacturers who benefit more by the holding of the Games. Or the rich Arab Nations who are making more money than they can spend in the current oil price boom can chip in. Of course they will get the Naming rights and Advertisement Preferance for their money.
This would focus a big development effort on a poor African Country and will symbolically shine the Olympic Light on the Dark Continent. Imagine the benefit of development and construction and jobs and economic growth that could accrue to Africa. The World Community can thus put their purse in place of their pronouncements towards the development of Africa. The facilities could be held in Trust for the World by the United Nations.
The facilities built could be maintained properly and the maintenance cost could be shared by the News and Broadcast Media organizations which are the other beneficiaries of the Olympic Games.
The Games can be held in this venue every 4 years and in between the facilities could be rented out for other events. They could also be used for training budding African athletes and sports persons.
The regular holding of Games would bring funds into Africa and would be of immense benefit to the development there.
This could also remove all politics and commercialism from the Olympic Games in future and the Games could go back to their original intended goals of promoting friendship among the Nations of the World and sports excellence in different fields.
Any takers?
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Olympic Games – They are not about Sports anymore
On the eve of the opening of Olympic Games in Beijing, George Bush has come out with scathing remarks about the human rights record of China. Was he not aware of this record for the last few years when China was getting ready to host the games? Why the sudden rush to condemn a Nation with which the USA has trade, economic and political relations and from which the USA is getting billions to shore up its troubled economy.
What is this sudden Enlightenment about?
It is about playing politics. Bush is taking the opportunity presented by the spotlight on China to say a few condemning words to shore up his image in his own country.
The Olympic Games themselves have become in the last few years more political and commercial. The host nation treats it as a chance to showcase itself and its potential for investment and trade. It builds facilities in a short time by borrowing and by dislocating people and industries to receive short-term infusion of funds with hopes of long term commercial benefits. The facilities are disused and left to collapse or pulled down later or sold.
The host nation runs the risk of the media and political spotlight which will expose its undesirable features and policies.
The sponsors, advertisers, the media etc are making money out of the Games.
The awarding of the Games itself has been shrouded in scandal as the selectors are wined and dined and corrupted with gifts and even money.
The Beijing Olympics have drawn the attention of the Western Media to the pollution and smog in Beijing and how the atmosphere there compares unfavourably to elsewhere in the developed world. Instead of appreciating the efforts taken, albeight for the short duration of the Games, by China to clean up the atmosphere, the reports always have a negative slant. Was the world not aware of what the climate and atmosphere would be in Beijing in August when the Games were awarded? What is the point of berating China?
If pollution is a relevant topic in the Games, are not the USA, UK and other western countries to be blamed more for the irresponsible use of natural resources and increasing
Global Warming and bringing the Earth to its present state now?
And if human rights is to be the focus, is not the USA and George Bush responsible for invading Iraq under false pretences resulting in the killing of thousands of Iraqis and causing indescribable damage to that nations and its people? USA is on the same floor as China in this regard, witness the Gitmo and Abu Graib.
The Olympic Games have ceased to be about promoting Sports and athletic competition and about fostering friendship among people as was intended by the Greeks centuries back and when the Games were revived later.
They have become more about making money, showcasing and the downside is inviting criticism and condemnation.
I am looking forward to the treatment London will get during the next 4 years in the run-up to the 2012 Games.
What is this sudden Enlightenment about?
It is about playing politics. Bush is taking the opportunity presented by the spotlight on China to say a few condemning words to shore up his image in his own country.
The Olympic Games themselves have become in the last few years more political and commercial. The host nation treats it as a chance to showcase itself and its potential for investment and trade. It builds facilities in a short time by borrowing and by dislocating people and industries to receive short-term infusion of funds with hopes of long term commercial benefits. The facilities are disused and left to collapse or pulled down later or sold.
The host nation runs the risk of the media and political spotlight which will expose its undesirable features and policies.
The sponsors, advertisers, the media etc are making money out of the Games.
The awarding of the Games itself has been shrouded in scandal as the selectors are wined and dined and corrupted with gifts and even money.
The Beijing Olympics have drawn the attention of the Western Media to the pollution and smog in Beijing and how the atmosphere there compares unfavourably to elsewhere in the developed world. Instead of appreciating the efforts taken, albeight for the short duration of the Games, by China to clean up the atmosphere, the reports always have a negative slant. Was the world not aware of what the climate and atmosphere would be in Beijing in August when the Games were awarded? What is the point of berating China?
If pollution is a relevant topic in the Games, are not the USA, UK and other western countries to be blamed more for the irresponsible use of natural resources and increasing
Global Warming and bringing the Earth to its present state now?
And if human rights is to be the focus, is not the USA and George Bush responsible for invading Iraq under false pretences resulting in the killing of thousands of Iraqis and causing indescribable damage to that nations and its people? USA is on the same floor as China in this regard, witness the Gitmo and Abu Graib.
The Olympic Games have ceased to be about promoting Sports and athletic competition and about fostering friendship among people as was intended by the Greeks centuries back and when the Games were revived later.
They have become more about making money, showcasing and the downside is inviting criticism and condemnation.
I am looking forward to the treatment London will get during the next 4 years in the run-up to the 2012 Games.
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