Olympics While Haiti is in Ruins?

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Comment by Marc on February 17, 2010 at 10:28

great article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/the-grinch-steals-the-...

Comment by Kimberleigh on February 2, 2010 at 17:32

Saw you commented on my video and decided to check out your profile. Was very interested to see this and wanted to comment as well.

I have been living in Vancouver for four years now and have seen a lot of problems involving the coming Olympics. I would love to point you in the direction of the website www.no2010.com which dives into the colonial and fascist history of the Olympics (from the Mexico City slaughter to Hitler's Nazi Olympics...) as well as the specific problems and politics British Columbia has been facing since Vancouver won the bid.

I wrote an article about the Beijing and Vancouver Olympics back in 2007 which you can read here if you like: http://thenaiadmuse.livejournal.com/144126.html

I also find it funny that a country like Haiti only gets the attention and financial aid from the rest of the world when some sort of horrible natural disaster hits. Other than that, they have been virtually ignored.

Comment by Everett on January 25, 2010 at 15:38

I also question the amount of global unity we gain from the olympics where only the countries that are rich enough have a chance to play.

The thought that the olympics will contiune due to the fact that they always have happend I find is bothersome, just because something has happend a long time in history does not mean it is justified it could and does mean it does not have a place.

Comment by Marc on January 25, 2010 at 15:15

Disaster in Haiti aside, I have a lot of problems with the Olympics. As Matt said, its not a problem with the celebration of sport, but rather the business model which has developed around game and even in stark contradiction for what the games should stand. An example was the awarding of the games to China in hopes of progressing human rights and fostering a more open and transparent society. In reality, the games brought increased censorship and restrictions on freedoms of expression and speech.

The same is happening in Canada. If you've followed the news involving VANOC these same themes of censorship, restrictions on the right to peacefully assemble and protest, and forced relocation for the poverty stricken downtown East-side residents have been constant.

And finally, the financial repercussions; if the real beneficiaries of the financial investments made by the Canadian government and Vancouver City are examined you'll find Joe Q public comes out on the loosing end... in fact, left holding the bag for all the cost overruns that seem to be a habitual characteristic of host nations.

So, yeah Matt, I'm with you. The money and effort could definitely be allocated toward something which could better fulfill the original intentions of the Olympics; namely, celebrate humanity and foster a communal spirit of brother and sisterhood... not establish a massive platform to sell Pepsi.

Comment by jim lavoie on January 24, 2010 at 8:10

NBC would rather take the 200 million hit than let the competition have the coverage-they care about advertising commitments and in reality viewership only matters to their clients not NBC. I think ,with Vancouver , as host city this year that that TSN/CTV will have amazing response to the games (hockey) and their coverage. I never watch american coverage of sports if there is CTV, CBC live reporting. It is not about sports for NBC its all about control of the advertising industry. It is the same thing we see every year (well actually in Canada we don't) with TV ads for the Super Bowl which get probably more reaction than the game itself.

Comment by Everett on January 22, 2010 at 23:17

If there is so much interest why does no one watch it? If a lot of people were watchin NBC would not expect to lose 200 mil on it.

Comment by jim lavoie on January 22, 2010 at 22:54

Why not just ask every country , that has some kind of lottery system, to donate one weeks total proceeds to this disaster and have the fund looked after by a UN tribunal of some sort. I think you would see a united front on this one and leave the Olympics which for all intents is prepaid in advance and years in the making. I understand your rationale but it will never happen due to the massive dollar invested by major corporations who will demand the games go as scheduled as a world rallying point. I dont think it matters what the average sports fan thinks or cares , most who can't afford to go to the games in person, it has become a major, if not the ultimate sporting event, television pinnacle of sports coverage. There is so much tied up in these games it would never ever be considered unless this Tragedy happened in the states and even then I am not sure they would stop.