politicians love big money moving around so they can grab a bit for themselves.
Many big projects in Italy shows this seems to be the main, if not unique, drive for events like the Olympics.
Why Would Anyone Want To Host The Olympics?
21–30 of 58 posts
Re: Why Would Anyone Want To Host The Olympics?
#22I think there's an important psychological dimension that's often missed from these calculations, particularly for countries that have a chip on their shoulder. It's a way for the entire world to be focused on something that you're doing well (hopefully) for a few weeks. Before the Beijing olympics many Chinese would ask you how you liked China, and when you replied, "yes" they would say China is "luo hou", which mea…
The transformation of East London which I believe to have been the main reason for choosing to host the Olympics in London, has been fairly spectacular. The Stratford area where the Olympic park was built, used to be a wasteland. Although I don't know this, I conjecture that the Olympics were used as a mechanism to force through a substantial number of planning permissions that would not have been granted otherwise.
Visually, it's changed - sure. There's a nice big stadium there that can be used every so often. It doesn't look as bad as it once did. It's changed very little of the outside area as far as I can tell though.
Stratford was recently named as the countries worst crime hotspot[0].
According to the FT, "the bounce" has failed to materialise [1].
I would not recommend a walk around the outskirts of the Olympic stadium for all but the very brave, it's still an area in much poverty with many social issues completely unresolved, notably violent crime (3.5 for every 1,000 people) [2].
[0] - http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/westfield-stratfords-po...
[1] - http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/543cabaa-8a41-11e2-9da4-00144feabd...
[2] - http://crimeinlondon.com/newham/stratford-and-new-town/viole...
Re: Why Would Anyone Want To Host The Olympics?
#23I think there's an important psychological dimension that's often missed from these calculations, particularly for countries that have a chip on their shoulder. It's a way for the entire world to be focused on something that you're doing well (hopefully) for a few weeks. Before the Beijing olympics many Chinese would ask you how you liked China, and when you replied, "yes" they would say China is "luo hou", which mea…
You are right about the pscychology. I thought we did a bloody good job of hosting the Olympics. Leading up to it I thought it was going to be a bit rubbish but when they actually started there was a sense of national pride. The problem is that the pride only lasts for a few months. After that I was (and many other people were) back to thinking it was a massive waste of money and the only place that would benefit was…
"You are right about the pscychology. I thought we did a bloody good job of hosting the Olympics."
I've been told by a relative, who works for the government to "sell" UK businesses internationally, that the London olympics are widely regarded as a model of how to "do it right". I don't know (and he didn't say) whether this makes it more possible to achieve long-term economic benefits that offset the cost of the event. I'm probably sceptical about that.
Re: Why Would Anyone Want To Host The Olympics?
#24Istanbul would be a perfect place for an Olympics, except Erdogan ruined it for them. Did you know that Istanbul is already third most internationally traveled city?
Even though I'm very anti Erdoğan I would not be happy If we got the Olympics with or without Erdoğan. Our Economy is projected as a heaven and Turkey as in growth but on the contrary it's way too bad and currently sky diving. Putting one more economic burden as big as the Olympic games would be catastrophic. We are nearly paying taxes just to breath. (exaggeration yes but not too well off.) Getting the games would m…
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Re: Why Would Anyone Want To Host The Olympics?
#25I think there's an important psychological dimension that's often missed from these calculations, particularly for countries that have a chip on their shoulder. It's a way for the entire world to be focused on something that you're doing well (hopefully) for a few weeks. Before the Beijing olympics many Chinese would ask you how you liked China, and when you replied, "yes" they would say China is "luo hou", which mea…
You are right about the pscychology. I thought we did a bloody good job of hosting the Olympics. Leading up to it I thought it was going to be a bit rubbish but when they actually started there was a sense of national pride. The problem is that the pride only lasts for a few months. After that I was (and many other people were) back to thinking it was a massive waste of money and the only place that would benefit was…
London 2052 will be awesome!
Re: Why Would Anyone Want To Host The Olympics?
#26I think there's an important psychological dimension that's often missed from these calculations, particularly for countries that have a chip on their shoulder. It's a way for the entire world to be focused on something that you're doing well (hopefully) for a few weeks. Before the Beijing olympics many Chinese would ask you how you liked China, and when you replied, "yes" they would say China is "luo hou", which mea…
The transformation of East London which I believe to have been the main reason for choosing to host the Olympics in London, has been fairly spectacular. The Stratford area where the Olympic park was built, used to be a wasteland. Although I don't know this, I conjecture that the Olympics were used as a mechanism to force through a substantial number of planning permissions that would not have been granted otherwise.
Problem with Straford is that
a) new builds in the UK are made as cheaply as possible.
b) new builds go down in value as soon as you buy them
c) we in Europe hate soulless man planned cities - a lot of the area around the olympic park feels this way.
I think the government could have just paid for the cleanup of the area and done something like subsidise housing for the poor there with the money, rather than pay the the huge costs of running the games. The opening ceremony was pretty good though :-D
Re: Why Would Anyone Want To Host The Olympics?
#27I think there's an important psychological dimension that's often missed from these calculations, particularly for countries that have a chip on their shoulder. It's a way for the entire world to be focused on something that you're doing well (hopefully) for a few weeks. Before the Beijing olympics many Chinese would ask you how you liked China, and when you replied, "yes" they would say China is "luo hou", which mea…
The transformation of East London which I believe to have been the main reason for choosing to host the Olympics in London, has been fairly spectacular. The Stratford area where the Olympic park was built, used to be a wasteland. Although I don't know this, I conjecture that the Olympics were used as a mechanism to force through a substantial number of planning permissions that would not have been granted otherwise.
"I conjecture that the Olympics were used as a mechanism to force through a substantial number of planning permissions that would not have been granted otherwise"
There was also fairly widespread use of compulsory purchase orders [1] to obtain land for the olympic park [2]. A significant number of people lost their homes, and businesses were forced to move, so that private-sector developers could take-over the land.
Re: Why Would Anyone Want To Host The Olympics?
#28[deleted]
Re: Why Would Anyone Want To Host The Olympics?
#29Its a bit like saying why would anyone want to host a huge dinner party.
Re: Why Would Anyone Want To Host The Olympics?
#30Only an economist could ask a question of the form "why would anyone want to do ?" I wonder how they manage to reproduce.
Are you suggesting that hosting the Olympics is a terminal goal, like having children is?
Being entertained is, as feeling a global spirit of humanity, as being proud to be a good host to the world. That are a lot of positive emotions I connect with the Olympic Games. It's quite expensive, but you only do it all 20-odd years (considering also Winter Olympics and Soccer Worldcup). Some modesty is in place, but it would be such a shame if we did not have these events anymore.