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The Myth of the Olympics (2004)

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Re: The Myth of the Olympics (2004)

#11

Post by andrepd »

xwolfi wrote: post #8
lordnacho wrote: post #4

Both alluded to in the article: - I think maybe we should actually just have a permanent location for the Olympics. I don't see why we let some ghost village get built somewhere every four years, it's super wasteful and not compatible with how we want to celebrate our humanity. So pick a place, maybe in Greece, but definitely somewhere near snow and water. Build facilities that can be a destination for elite sportspe…

And it's fine tbh, it's not like poor people are the apex of humanity and the only ones who should have a say in what desires should be satisfied by taxes they mostly are not the ones paying. However, I think sport in general is not followed by the richest members of society even if, as you pointed out, the most muscular specimens selected by this organization might be. It's as if the richest people were putting on a…

I'm not really sure what's the point of your comment. You're just saying things from the arrogant (I'm so superior because I don't care for sports, did I tell you I'm rich and my ancestors all have PhDs?) to the insulting (it's okay that poor people can't participate, it's not like they're the apex of humanity).

Like I say, I'm not sure what your point is.

Re: The Myth of the Olympics (2004)

#12

Post by trhway »

MomoXenosaga wrote: post #9

The Olympics are just weird. All these sports normally nobody gives a shit about but because of nationalism countries compete for medals. Olympic spirit my ass. My own country is rich enough that we can pay for a few hundred boys and girls doing gymnastics all day. But that means it isn't even a fair competition! Money buys medals.

>nationalism countries compete for medals. Olympic spirit my ass.

If i remember correctly i read some interpretation of ancient Olympics as substitution/sublimation of wars between the city-states. Just look at how the Olympic winners were met by their cities - like triumphant commanders who win battles and wars. In that sense channeling of that nationalistic craze and aggression into a competition is the original Olympic spirit. Humans are vicious/tribalistic/xenophobic/etc. and not emphatic/cooperative/etc. - thus our attempt to see Olympics as the games of the latter may be kind of misguided as it is really the games of the former.

Re: The Myth of the Olympics (2004)

#13

Post by ekianjo »

lordnacho wrote: post #4

Both alluded to in the article: - I think maybe we should actually just have a permanent location for the Olympics. I don't see why we let some ghost village get built somewhere every four years, it's super wasteful and not compatible with how we want to celebrate our humanity. So pick a place, maybe in Greece, but definitely somewhere near snow and water. Build facilities that can be a destination for elite sportspe…

> I think maybe we should actually just have a permanent location for the Olympics.

just like the real ones...

Re: The Myth of the Olympics (2004)

#14

Post by orbifold »

MomoXenosaga wrote: post #9

The Olympics are just weird. All these sports normally nobody gives a shit about but because of nationalism countries compete for medals. Olympic spirit my ass. My own country is rich enough that we can pay for a few hundred boys and girls doing gymnastics all day. But that means it isn't even a fair competition! Money buys medals.

It's also extremely expensive to train for any of these sports, in figure skating in the US you pay hundreds of euros every month for coaching and access to an ice rink only to a have a tiny tiny chance to be selected as one of ~5 competitors max. That doesn't include the mandatory very expensive costumes etc.

Re: The Myth of the Olympics (2004)

#15

Post by hoseja »

trhway wrote: post #12
MomoXenosaga wrote: post #9

The Olympics are just weird. All these sports normally nobody gives a shit about but because of nationalism countries compete for medals. Olympic spirit my ass. My own country is rich enough that we can pay for a few hundred boys and girls doing gymnastics all day. But that means it isn't even a fair competition! Money buys medals.

>nationalism countries compete for medals. Olympic spirit my ass. If i remember correctly i read some interpretation of ancient Olympics as substitution/sublimation of wars between the city-states. Just look at how the Olympic winners were met by their cities - like triumphant commanders who win battles and wars. In that sense channeling of that nationalistic craze and aggression into a competition is the original Ol…

Humans are both. Empathic and cooperative with their tribe, vicious and xenophobic towards other tribes. It's a perfectly cromulent survival strategy. Organized groups larger than some 200 members are a very modern thing.

Re: The Myth of the Olympics (2004)

#16

Post by jollybean »

lordnacho wrote: post #4

Both alluded to in the article: - I think maybe we should actually just have a permanent location for the Olympics. I don't see why we let some ghost village get built somewhere every four years, it's super wasteful and not compatible with how we want to celebrate our humanity. So pick a place, maybe in Greece, but definitely somewhere near snow and water. Build facilities that can be a destination for elite sportspe…

Poor nations of the world send tons of athletes you've never heard of, and some nations carve out a niche and do really well.

Of course, money will always be a factor but it's not 'class within a nation' that's the issue, it's really nation v. nation.

Also, the current version of the Olympics was a little bit of a club for the elite have friendly competitions among gentleman of the elite, i.e. amateurs, not some 'pursuit of the absolute best'.

Instead of having the Olympics in 'one spot' they could simply tone it down and use existing hotels and facilities.

No reason that instead of Toronto you have 'Southern Ontario' for example. And keep the same sports co-located so that athletes don't have to be on transport 5 hours a day.

The requirements for size of opening ceremonies are rubbish as well. You can use a mid-size stadium and that's that.

Finally, recognize that the Olympics are a huge graft opportunity for countries to pilfer tax dollars. They can build '$500M stadiums' that only cost '$100M' where $350M is a kickback to Putin, $50M goes into developer pockets ... the stadium may nor may not get finished ...

Re: The Myth of the Olympics (2004)

#17

Post by jollybean »

abcd_f wrote: post #5
lordnacho wrote: post #4

Both alluded to in the article: - I think maybe we should actually just have a permanent location for the Olympics. I don't see why we let some ghost village get built somewhere every four years, it's super wasteful and not compatible with how we want to celebrate our humanity. So pick a place, maybe in Greece, but definitely somewhere near snow and water. Build facilities that can be a destination for elite sportspe…

Having permanent location will kill the very business model of Olympics, which is to allow participating entities to drain ridiculous amounts of money from the next location and to ensure the well-being of the Olympics selection committee through the kickbacks and bribes. Saying it as someone who had to have to endure Olympics stuffed down their throat as a “lucky winner,” only to be shafted with extra taxes for seve…

"which is to allow participating entities to drain ridiculous amounts of money from the next location"

Almost - it's the local government stealing money from tax base of local citizens though. The IOC and Olympics itself is not getting rich, other than as individuals via bribery but that is small change compared to the local graft.

Re: The Myth of the Olympics (2004)

#18

Post by ptr2voidStar »

xwolfi wrote: post #8
lordnacho wrote: post #4

Both alluded to in the article: - I think maybe we should actually just have a permanent location for the Olympics. I don't see why we let some ghost village get built somewhere every four years, it's super wasteful and not compatible with how we want to celebrate our humanity. So pick a place, maybe in Greece, but definitely somewhere near snow and water. Build facilities that can be a destination for elite sportspe…

And it's fine tbh, it's not like poor people are the apex of humanity and the only ones who should have a say in what desires should be satisfied by taxes they mostly are not the ones paying. However, I think sport in general is not followed by the richest members of society even if, as you pointed out, the most muscular specimens selected by this organization might be. It's as if the richest people were putting on a…

This comment is dripping with condescension,and shows breathtaking lack of self awareness and empathy for others.

Re: The Myth of the Olympics (2004)

#19

Post by ptr2voidStar »

hoseja wrote: post #15
trhway wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>nationalism countries compete for medals. Olympic spirit my ass. If i remember correctly i read some interpretation of ancient Olympics as substitution/sublimation of wars between the city-states. Just look at how the Olympic winners were met by their cities - like triumphant commanders who win battles and wars. In that sense channeling of that nationalistic craze and aggression into a competition is the original Ol…

Humans are both. Empathic and cooperative with their tribe, vicious and xenophobic towards other tribes. It's a perfectly cromulent survival strategy. Organized groups larger than some 200 members are a very modern thing.

Hahaha "perfectly cromulent" - I see you! (fellow fan of the Simpsons!).
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