Olympic Dream Turns To Nightmare For Athens

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 3-3-2004 | Helena Smith

[AntiGuv]

Absolutely. I definitely enjoy the big-ticket sports like track & field or swimming, but one of my favorite part of the Olympics are the more obscure events. The various personal storylines and the rivalries that develop are also a great part of the games for me. Just the entire spectacle with its celebration of athletics and devotion and sacrifice and achievement is very special.

[Servant of the 9]

Wasn't that the Goodwill Games, substituting Atlanta for the Rockies?

That was a wussie deal run by Ted Turner and deliberately designed to be second rate so as not to challenge the Olympics.

The Hegemonic games would be designed to be an equal of the Olympics, and first among equals.

So9

[Captain Peter Blood]

This what happens when you have corrupt Socialists & Communists running the government. I read and article about a year ago that forcast the facilities would not be built on time and I thought then that would be the case.
Not enough security and too many greedy people trying to get a cut of the pie.
One of the main reasons I read was the labor force and difficulties getting enough workers, etc..
This is going to be one big screw up and there is going to be a lot of egg on the faces of Olympic officials.
I think possibly the Olympics are outmoded and too big to handle anymore. Well I guess we will see this summer.

[freedumb2003]

Memo to self: If you make satire too subtly, it ain't funny.

I thought for sure "the Atlanta substituted for the Rockies" would let people know I was joking. I have HOT to remember this medium doesn't actually SHOW my facial expression at posting time ;)

[Cboldt]

Somebody is entitled to a big "told you so" on this one.

[Guillermo]

Heck no, and therein lied the problem.

For the Socialists who control the Olympics, they WANT the games to end up in the red.

[chickenlips]

Bummer. I worked there for a short while and meet my wonderful wife there. Love the food, the culture and the scenery. The people treated us foreigners better than they treated each other, too. It will be a shame if they embarrass themselves with this.

But, having lived there a while I can see how it could happen. They are definitely caught between eastern and western thinking.

[Guillermo]

Well, I guess we shouldn't build anything grand, as it could become a "terrorist target."

OK, get back in your basement, we will tell you when it's safe to come out.

[Paleo Conservative]

I guess we shouldn't build anything grand, as it could become a "terrorist target."

That wasn't what I meant. A glass roof on that stadium was a bad idea.

[dagnabbit]

Coming soon:

My Big Fat F***ed-up Olympics

[eleni121]

My contacts there tell me that there are thousands of workers being imported to work on the construction projects for the Olympics. Main problem: historical artifacts found literally daily and work must stop in order to determine whether the site can be developed. Second terrible planning. But, the Greeks will get this thing done although the Socialists need to go.

[Guillermo]

Well, they're Greeks, what do you expect.

Self-admitted Communists and Socialists are running the show there, and they expect efficiency and functionality?

[Paleo Conservative]

Well, they're Greeks, what do you expect.

Don't ask me. Ask the IOC.

If there is a major incident of terrorism during the Olympics, it will probably hurt Kerry.

[Paleo Conservative]

If there is a major incident of terrorism during the Olympics, it will probably hurt Kerry.

Well not physically, but it would not help Kerry polically.

[Guillermo]

Well, if there is one, he will blame Bush for not acting pre-emptively.

If there isn't one, he will say there is no terror threat (a la Michael Moore).

[Hildy]

Over a year ago I read that they foresaw all of this happening. Greeks just don't like to work too hard is what the article implied. Of course, we'll come in and save the day...as usual.

[Guillermo]

Dude, are you just the biggest sports fan on earth, or what?

I follow sports, and am a huge fan, but do I know who the Olympic favorites in swimming are several months before the games?

Who are the favorites for archery and short-track cycling?

[Blue Scourge]

huh...the idea of a State's games does sound interesting...

[NittanyLion]

Dude, are you just the biggest sports fan on earth, or what? I follow sports, and am a huge fan, but do I know who the Olympic favorites in swimming are several months before the games? Who are the favorites for archery and short-track cycling?

*grin* I have some extra knowledge when it comes to swimming...I've met a bunch of the guys who'll likely be headed to Athens.

I'm betting on Marty Nothstein for short track cycling (He cycles near my hometown).

[Jhensy]

I used to love the Olympics, until it was utterly destroyed by the networks.

We'll see hours of Katie and Matt, be force-fed taped profiles of American athletes endlessly, endure MTV-like X-Games/hip-hop/musical/graphic montages, and sit through HOUR AFTER HOUR OF COMMERCIALS...

Just to see taped highlights of two participants in any given event -- the American, and the eventual winner from some other country.

Just SHUT UP AND SHOW THE EVENTS, AND I'LL WATCH!!!