[dforest]

Probably time to forget about the Olympics.

[Cowboy Bob]

It calls for common-sense reforms like promoting gender equality

This is common sense?

If they are really serious about "gender equality," they would make men and women compete against each other.

[Don Corleone]

If they want to keep the Olympics going hold them in Greece every four years like the original games. Lord knows Greece could probably use the cash flow.

[Vigilanteman]

Best run Olympics to date in terms of cost control was Lillehammer, Norway in 1994. They built almost nothing new and used bulldozers to build natural amphitheaters, erected snow fences and planted trees to make natural windbreaks.

Next best run was probably Salt Lake City, 2002, which built little new and made good use of existing venues, including world class ski resorts.

Lesson #1 here is that you don't have to spend a fortune if you use what's already available wisely. Lesson #2 is that if you don't already have most of the infrastructure in place or the capability to build it good but cheaply, then you probably shouldn't be hosting an Olympics. Lesson #3 is knowing when to tell all the third world extortionists on the IOC to take a hike.

[Arthur McGowan]

A bunch of young people waste years of their lives training for events that last 30 seconds, which they compete in in ever-skimpier outfits so billions of people can ogle them on TV, while off-camera the athletes go through several tens of thousands of free condoms.

It’s for “world peace.”

[longtermmemmory]

either that or just pic a location and it is always there.

Athens may have been a 2004 boondoggle but they used the money for infrastructure. (roads, metros etc)

If it is always in the same location it ends the pay for hosting BS.

[ClearCase_guy]

Prior to WWII, the modern Olympics were relatively small, amateur events focused on sportsmanship and excellence.

After WWII, the modern Olympics became proxy struggles in the Cold War. Nations cared about winning for reasons which had nothing to do with sports.

After the Berlin Wall came down and the USSR imploded, the modern Olympics became glitzy entertainment which failed to satisfy anyone and which quickly became cost-prohibitive.

Time to let it go.

[Nifster]

Perhaps the IOC hasn’t figured out that we just don’t care

[Mr. K]

Does the host country have to pay for everything?

Why not divvy the costs, and split the profits.

[goldstategop]

Its just too expensive.

You’re talking about building brand new facilities that will be used only once and then abandoned.

And don’t forget transportation, communication and security upgrades.

All those have to be paid. I mean its a question of price and few countries can afford to host the Olympics anymore.