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Madrid to bid for 2016 Olympics
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/othe...12/5154730.stm I think Madrid would make a great host city. But on the subject of European travel, did Madrid make any improvements to its public transport system in anticipation for the (losing) 2012 bid? What improvements did it plan to make if it won? Casey |
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Madrid to bid for 2016 Olympics
On Fri, 7 Jul 2006 08:31:27 -0600, "Casey"
wrote: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/othe...12/5154730.stm I think Madrid would make a great host city. But on the subject of European travel, did Madrid make any improvements to its public transport system in anticipation for the (losing) 2012 bid? What improvements did it plan to make if it won? I feel sorry for the average Madridian. Hosting the Olympics is a huge drain on the municipal economy, as well as a multi-year upheaval for the residents. In many cases those big, fancy sports complexes become eyesores and tax drains. IMHO, the summer Olympics should be held at Athens in perpetuity. They invented the Games and it is the Athenians to whom we tip our hats when we consider the spirit of the Games. I have grown weary of the silly power trips and the pathetic groveling that cities exhibit when it comes to begging for a spot as host city. It's childish and stupid. I say we all pitch in and create in Athens the most impressive and efficient Olympic facilities humanity has ever known. We'll make Athens a key destination every four years. The facilities will become a boon for the city rather than a drain. And the Greek economy will get a much-needed regular shot in the arm. I've never been to Greece, but I'm sure it's lovely. I'd be happy to attend the games there. As for the rest of us? We can still do the year-long "passing of the torch" around the world. We can make a big deal out of it and have certain cities host the torch for a day or two so tourists can gape at it. Return the Olympic games to Olympus! Run the marathon from Marathon to Athens! Have the athletes perform nekkid! Give the winners a lousy sprig of laurel, then immortalize them in song and statuary! THAT'S the Olympics, bitches! Not a bunch of self-absorbed municipal politicians brokering deals with their brother-in-law's construction company. **** the politics! Let's play Games! - TR |
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Madrid to bid for 2016 Olympics
On Sat, 08 Jul 2006 18:45:32 -0700, Citizen Ted
wrote: IMHO, the summer Olympics should be held at Athens in perpetuity. They invented the Games and it is the Athenians to whom we tip our hats when we consider the spirit of the Games. Erm? No it's not The games are clearly a function of Dr Brookes and Baron de Coubertain, neither are greek gentleman. Generally you seem to be confusing two seperate activities, one is the games, the other is the excuse that can be used to convince people in democracies to strike through the NIMBYism so rennovation can proceed. Are the olympics really worse than 15 years of delays whilst the planning process and the courts have their say? Jim. |
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Madrid to bid for 2016 Olympics
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Madrid to bid for 2016 Olympics
On Sun, 09 Jul 2006 11:57:03 -0700, Citizen Ted
wrote: Thus, it is to the Greeks that Coubertin, Brookes and the rest of us "tip our hats when we consider the spirit of the Games" - your naysaying notwithstanding. Bitch. I certainly do not, I don't see much correlation with the rise of sport in 19th Century England and Europe, with previous events a few thousand years before. I'm not confusing anything, and your statement doesn't make any sense in reference to my post. There is ample evidence of graft, bribery and cronyism when it comes to hosting the Games. So? There's ample evidence of all of those things in all walks of life, and there would be no less if it was held in Athens every 4 years. Is it really NIMBYism when a community decides that its taxes and sacrifices are better spent on meaningful infrastructure, rather than pork barrel construction projects with limited long-term viability? Except they don't of course, the community decides that it should host an olympics, of course it's only yourself who's calling it "pork barrel construction projects"... Your refence to 15 years of delays eludes me - I don't know what you're talking about. It's the typical delay in getting funding and planning permission for the sort of travel infrastructure projects in London, which has now been removed, because there's a cause people get behind. With financing from all countries interested in playing the games, Greece would be freed of the cost burden while enjoying the economic benefits. Why would any country want to subsidise a wealthy european nation like that? But I guess your post demonstrates that there are people who don't care about that and are more interested in the "prestige" of hosting the Games. IMHO, the "prestige" should be garnered in WINNING MEDALS, not winning bids to host. Not at all, I just don't see how gifting some nation the benefits of hosting in no way a solution, neither something which is good, you're focusing on a tiny negative in the whole process of running an olympic games. I don't find medals all that interesting, I'm massively impressed by those that do win, the only one I've met sacrificed a lot to do it. Please note that I'm still leaving the door open to bids for hosting the Winter Olympics. Which is of course silly, as only a small minority of the worlds country could hold a winter olympics, snowy mountains are kind of important. Jim. |
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Madrid to bid for 2016 Olympics
Casey writes:
I think Madrid would make a great host city. I think anywhere far away from Paris would make a great host city. -- Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail. |
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Madrid to bid for 2016 Olympics
On Sun, 09 Jul 2006 23:08:57 +0200, Mxsmanic
wrote: Casey writes: I think Madrid would make a great host city. I think anywhere far away from Paris would make a great host city. Is the magic wearing off? -- --- DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com --- -- |
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Madrid to bid for 2016 Olympics
Dave Frightens Me writes:
Is the magic wearing off? No, I just don't want to damage the magic by hosting a farce like the Olympics in Paris. Let some other city make that mistake. -- Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail. |
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Madrid to bid for 2016 Olympics
On Mon, 10 Jul 2006 01:37:25 +0200, Mxsmanic
wrote: Dave Frightens Me writes: Is the magic wearing off? No, I just don't want to damage the magic by hosting a farce like the Olympics in Paris. Let some other city make that mistake. Fair enough. -- --- DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com --- -- |
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Madrid to bid for 2016 Olympics
Dave Frightens Me wrote:
On Mon, 10 Jul 2006 01:37:25 +0200, Mxsmanic wrote: Dave Frightens Me writes: Is the magic wearing off? No, I just don't want to damage the magic by hosting a farce like the Olympics in Paris. Let some other city make that mistake. Fair enough. I don't think it will be a mistake for London to host them in 2012. It will be expensive for sure, but it's a catalyst for regeneration of an area which really needs it. A lot of UK people disagree with that (i.e. the expense), but there you go. -- David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk http://homepage.mac.com/davidhornecomposer http://soundjunction.org |
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