Should This Year's Summer Olympics In RIO Just Be Cancelled?

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WhatInThe

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Should this years Summer Olympics in Rio just be cancelled with Brazil in the midst of corruption scandals, rampant poverty and pollution, the Zika virus etc? Are games and/or associated sport celebrity status really worthy of this outdated format?
 

I don't think the games should be cancelled. All countries have horrible things about them and if we decided on that we would have no place to hold the Olympics. I see they have been spraying for the Zika mosquito.
 
Think of all the efforts the athletes and their helpers have put in for perhaps a once in a lifetime chance. Not the elite athletes, from such countries as the US, Russia and China, but the Maltese, the Estonians, Gabonese.

Even if they fail to finish their grandchildren will be telling their own grandchildren about it in the next century.

I certainly tell mine about the uncle who had an Olympic trial (fencing) in the 1936 games!
 

I felt like that a short time ago but it`s becoming pretty evident that the Zika virus is going to be spreading to the rest of our areas pretty quickly now anyway. So may as well still have the games,for the other reasons mentioned.
 
What do you mean by "outdated"? The only thing to me that is outdated about the Games is the idea of athletes training in their own countries and living in them, instead of moving to other countries (often the US) and paying trainers from yet other countries to train them. IMO this takes away from the true international competition which used to be what the Olympics were about. So apparently most athletes think that is an outdated concept. Oh, well, it was probably going on during the ancient Games too -- probably at least one Athenian hired a Spartan coach and eventually moved to some alpine village in Gaul to train in the rarified atmosphere. lol
 
This map shows the dozens of nations where the Zika virus is active, and as the Summer approaches, the mosquitoes will be moving further North...by mid-Summer. many of the U.S. states may well be affected.

http://www.zika-virus.com/spread.html

The athletes will be exposed to both the virus...and the excessive amounts of pesticides being sprayed in Brazil.

60 Minutes did a story this past Sunday exposing the rampant "Doping" taking place in Russia...so as to enhance the performance of that nations athletes. It will be interesting to see if the Olympic Committee takes note.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-russian-doping-at-sochi-winter-olympics-exposed/
 
Guitarist said:
What do you mean by "outdated"? The only thing to me that is outdated about the Games is the idea of athletes training in their own countries and living in them, instead of moving to other countries (often the US) and paying trainers from yet other countries to train them. IMO this takes away from the true international competition which used to be what the Olympics were about. So apparently most athletes think that is an outdated concept. Oh, well, it was probably going on during the ancient Games too -- probably at least one Athenian hired a Spartan coach and eventually moved to some alpine village in Gaul to train in the rarified atmosphere. lol
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For starters from a fan or viewer stand point many of the events or athletes you only got to see at or around the Olympics but now with all the niche sports on tv there is no need to wait four years. The addition of professional athletes to many sports has just made them another game or appearance for that athlete. Most athletes in any sports now a day also get top notch very scientific training even if not on a national team, especially in college or professional sports. One gets to see "Olympic" performances year round. And knowing many of those athletes are probably cheating or have cheated takes away any uniqueness or mystic the event or athletes have. And as pointed out is it really about the countries OR athletes competing against each other. Nationalism doesn't have the same meaning it had decades ago. Also should note in the day and age of the "spoiled" or well paid athlete many consider the Olympics an inconvenience especially the professional league teams that lose players in an Olympic year. The Olympics are simply not as unique or "special" as they used to be.

And last but not least the cost of the Olympics can decimate a city or country in the end. Many cities are stuck with bills and sites they can't use for much else without even more money for repurposing.
 
We haven't missed any of the modern Olympic games.
It is up to each nation to decide whether to compete or not.
If one or more countries pull out, the games still go on.

It is also up to each athlete whether he or she will compete.
The call to compete goes out, and those who answer are entitled to be called Olympians.
 
I'm going but I am bringing bottled water and wet wipes so I don't have to shower while there...
 
A Brazilian athlete is recommending that tourists stay because of the state of things in Rio, especially the violence and noted poor hospitals so if one gets sick even going to a hospital might not save you.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/brazilian-soccer-star-s-olympic-warning---stay-home-194919882.html

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2016/05/11/brazilian-soccer-star-urges-tourists-to-skip-rio-olympics.html

Note the dead bodies on the beach with tourists just milling around. Authorities that slow to get to a death scene? Are they even capable in Brazil.

Should add the big reason the Rio Olympics haven't been cancelled yet is, wait for it-money, 1 BILLION dollars in advertising.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/insi...r1-billion-in-ads-for-rio-olympics/ar-BBr58Tq
 
But you aren't competing, Bullie.

By all means, people shouldn't travel to Brazil to watch the games if concerned about health and other hazards but the athletes will be well looked after and they are entitled to participate. Some are coming from countries a lot more dangerous than Brazil.
 
Brazil managed to host the World Cup a couple of years ago and everything went well. Surely they can handle the Olympics.
 
Warrigal said:
But you aren't competing, Bullie.

By all means, people shouldn't travel to Brazil to watch the games if concerned about health and other hazards but the athletes will be well looked after and they are entitled to participate. Some are coming from countries a lot more dangerous than Brazil.
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50 years ago I would've agreed but in a day and age of niche sports it's a lot easier for one to play one's preferred sport without the Olympics. Some might consider the competitors selfish or narcissistic for wanting to put a country through a lot of trials and tribulations including financing and inconveniences. It is a shame that a lot of hard work and commitment might be lost but again there many more avenues available to most athletes & sports today compared to decades ago.

People in the US are tired of building stadiums or hosting big events because of cost and inconvenience. The Pope visits last fall cost lots of money and a lot of businesses money because many parts of a city are shut down during the event for security and traffic control. Same happens for other major sporting events, festivals etc. The cities hosting the political conventions this year will be praying for the crowds and politicians to leave, not because they can't stand them but so they can get their life back.
 
The US is free to boycott the Olympics if they want to. You've done it before for political reasons.
No-one is forcing you to host these events either.

Let those who want to participate do so. The smaller nations appreciate the Olympics and if the big nations pull out they will still come.
 
Guitarist said:
Brazil managed to host the World Cup a couple of years ago and everything went well. Surely they can handle the Olympics.
Click to expand...

Brazil had issues back in 2014 which have gotten worse, not better. Plus the Olympics are much larger in every aspect because of the number of sports and athletes. A much larger obligation which might not be so easily met.

They're in the middle of huge political corruption scandal now(impeachment proceedings announced today), the economy is in the tank, the Zika virus is lurking and crime/murder has been increasing. These issues are so prevalent that Brazil could very well go into revolution and/or social upheaval at anytime. The Olympics at best will only delay an eventuality of Brazil's fight for survival.

http://www.npr.org/sections/paralle...oment-in-the-sun-brazil-faces-a-perfect-storm
 
It SHOULD GO ON
BUT I WORRY THE SECURITY
WONT BE UP TO SCRATCH
CUTTING CORNERS COSTS LIVES
 

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