Olympics

[Bazile]

Too late now .

But should the games have been cancelled altogether given the restrictions to people from other countries etc ?

I may be wrong , but as I understand it the stadias are going to empty

[Ken4155]

The stadia will be empty. Baz, but the zillions of tv cameras will pick up all the advertising around the tracks and fields of play. Apparently a newspaper survey was done recently which showed that 70% (i think the number was) of Japanese citizens do not want the games to go ahead because of Covid.

[tomus42]

They must have done the sums and realised it would cost more to cancel than to go ahead with empty stadiums.

[youngmafbog]

Couldnt care less one way or another. For the Japanese people and Olympic committee to decide.

[barry1010]

This is an interesting read - it is a very expensive business hosting the games
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/markets-economy/092416/what-economic-impact-hosting-olympics.asp

Having read that I hope the UK never hosts The Olympics again

[ichkeria]

Not sure the Japanese people had much of a say in it.
It’s certainly risky, as much for the reputation of the games as much as anything.
The ideal solution would have been to hold the games in Tokyo in 2024 and move everything back 4 years but I guess that was too problematic and unfair on the athletes.
It’s interesting to see they have a new bidding and selection process, with only one or at least very few candidates previously recommended by the IOC. That has to be a good thing.

[naomi24]

It should have been cancelled. Either do it properly or not at all.

[Ken4155]

Scroll down to 'The Bottom Line' in Barry's link and it's a small wonder anyone wants to hose the Games.

[ichkeria]

Only three years now to Paris!

[Mozz71]

Agree with Naomi. It should have been cancelled. Without fans, it's a fraction of it's normal spectacle.

[ichkeria]

It’s a pity there are no visitors or spectators: it won’t be the same at all.
However primarily it’s about the sport and the athletes and it would have been a big call to simply cancel it. Postponing further largely for the same reason was also as I say probably not feasible.
Cancelling on health grounds was the option they have risked not going with but they weren’t going to cancel for any other reason

[barry1010]

As it is going ahead I hope the athletes are as motivated as they would be in front of a crowd. It's disappointing for them.

[jno]

a lot of the Olympics is reputational/promotional, for the city and by extension the country. Montreal lost money heavily. Atlanta made themselves look hopelessly incompetent. Barcelona's popularity was hugely boosted after staging them.

London didn't need such a big boost, since Britain is already famous for staging medieval processions, royal weddings and so forth; none the less, it ran smoothly after serious hiccups involving Group 4 and booking arrangements. Though I suspect some dodgy dealing in unloading the main stadium, it did a lot to regenerate east London; the fast trains from St Pancras are still going, wheelchair access to the tube was imnproved etc etc - little things as well as big. Many prople prophesied doom and disaster (New Judge was particularly confident we were all going to hell) but it went well and cheered people up.

Contrariwise, cancelling the games would inflict severe reputational damage on Tokyo, and it would be pointless: athletes, if healthy, can still compete; cameras can still broadcast them to their countries and the rest of the world.

[barry1010]

We lost a heck of a lot of money on hosting the Olympics
"Also, income from the games often covers only a portion of expenses. For example, London brought in $5.2 billion and spent $18 billion on the 2012 Summer Olympics"

[Ken4155]

Jno, we were constantly told that the 2012 Games would benefit the entire country in the long run. Aside from the few things in London you mention, i don't see how the rest of the country are continuing to see any benefit (if they saw any in the first place) from hosting the Olympics.

[Arksided]

I feel sorry for the athletes that've had to even emprovise doing their sport of choice for the past year and the four years before waiting to take their chance of winning a meddle for their country fans themselves and everyone involved...

However I don't think it should've have gone ahead

[Arksided]

*Medal

[Ken4155]

No doubt these athletes, having trained for this moment for quite some time, will be desperately trying to avoid coming into contact with anyone outside the 'village'. I have heard (or read somewhere) that this is the first Games for some time where condoms haven't been supplied to all those taking part?

[Peter Pedant]

// (New Judge was particularly confident we were all going to hell) b//
can I proof read that to

(New Judge was particularly confident we were all going to hell again unless we listened to every word of the wise like Ld Sumption)

televison right
but Iwas reflecting on how olympics veer - career - wildy between money makers and white elephants - Montreal and Tokyo I 1964 were money makers and Moscow ( remember aaah little Mischa?) and London were dogs

[ichkeria]

The London games were wonderful.
Jno is right: I remember loads of doom and gloom from all sorts and I especially revel the hooha about the Opening Ceremony.

Yes the material benefits were exaggerated but without wishing to sound too twee, sometimes you have to look behind that.

[lankeela]

"However primarily it’s about the sport and the athletes and it would have been a big call to simply cancel it."

Nothing at all to do with the millions made by companies supplying everything?