The Winter Olympics: A Dying Proposition? (Why Demographic trends portend a dire future)

American Thinker ^ | 03/2010 | Joseph Finlay

[Zionist Conspirator]

Personally, I wouldn't miss the Winter Olympics. I simply don't identify with them and have no interest in them.

Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic movement, was opposed to winter games because winter sports were the exclusive purview of the wealthy and privileged. And, while it may be ironic or even hypocritical for someone with a title to say such a thing, I agree with him.

[Cyber Liberty]

I guess the author never saw “Cool Runnings.”

[Cyber Liberty]

I maintain as long as non-sports are allowed, like figure skating, the Olympics (both seasons) should be allowed to die.

[RnMomof7]

Camel races are also big

[Paleo Conservative]

Consider the top eight Winter Olympic medal-winning nations since 1924: Norway, Russia, the USA, Austria, Germany, Finland, Canada, and Sweden. These nations have spawned the lion's share of great figure skaters, hockey players, alpine skiers, and downhill legends, while serving as host nations on numerous occasions. These same countries also share another dubious honor. If there were a medal count for "lowest birth rates in the world," the Winter Olympics bloc nations would just as certainly sweep the gold, silver, and bronze.

[Alberta's Child]

Interesting story. I’m not sure I understand what that guy’s point was. “Amateur athletics” in general is pretty much the exclusive purview of the wealthy and privileged — and has been since the modern Olympics were established.

[AnAmericanMother]

Kipling knew. He had a lot of deep knowledge of human nature -- plus a perfect ear for dialogue.

Have you read his late short stories? They are out of this world (in some cases, literally, like "They" or "Wireless".)

[diverteach]

I thought NBC did a horrible job. I remember ABC and Jim McCay, they did a great job with the olympics.

[luvbach1]

One of the Arab Emirates (can’t recall which) is building a gargantuan indoor mountain snow ski slope. All it takes is money.

[darkside321]

yes money definitely helps! But can you imagine someone training for downhill indoor? ;-)

[PAR35]

Winter sports such as figure skating, ... that require ... proximity to snow-capped mountains, and a close-to-year-round Arctic climate in order for a young hopeful to one day compete on the Olympic stage.

The writer probably needs to be told about air conditioning and refrigerated indoor rinks.

[sionnsar]

BTW Ice skating is mostly indoors as well

That is Just Wrong!

[mountn man]

They also have goat shagging.

[the invisib1e hand]

Is the winter olympics really diverse enough? Doesn’t it discriminate against africans and stuff?

[kalee]

ping

[Don Corleone]

As an aside...I wonder how much $$$$$ Canada will lose by having the Olympics in Vancouver?

[thulldud]

I guess the author never saw “Cool Runnings.”

Can't tell that from the text, but it seems that he at least knows what it was about.

[SkyPilot]

With the notable exceptions of a few winter sports-loving Asian nations like Japan, South Korea, and China -- nations that have to varying degrees opened to Western technology -- the Winter Olympics have historically been a showcase for the northern nations of Europe, North America, and the former Soviet Union.

TRANSLATION:

[UB355]

And I guess the author never saw “Blades of Glory.”

[donna]

The Winter Olympics nations are dying.

Abortion doesn't just kill babies, it kills civilizations.