And I'm happy to have someone have a different point of view. It can be a dark place suspecting foul play all the time.

I suppose my model of thought revolves around something like the afl Where "wages" and salary caps are closely tied to Viewing rights by the networks. After all we want to see the very best doing their best. Which takes full time focus.

apart from winning a gold in a high profile
sport I suspect most athletes in most sports struggle financially (well I have known some personally and they do).

Viewing across the globe must generate immense wealth (or at least distribute in from paying viewers to .. Some corporate groups). Why are the athletes themselves not sharing in this wealth distribution? Surely they should. Just because they chose to be the very best athlete they are still the best. Just like the best accountants, ennginners, whatever - they get paid what they are Worth - the highest. Why not these athletes? Where does this money flow?

You watch those fringe sports because its the Olympics, not from an intrinsic obsession. If a lot of people actually liked watching them they would get airtime outside the games.
Just a side note, why don't the Yanks win every shooting medal when guns is their national obsession?

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Mr Milk said..

Just a side note, why don't the Yanks win every shooting medal when guns is their national obsession?

Because they are not stable

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eppo said..
And I'm happy to have someone have a different point of view. It can be a dark place suspecting foul play all the time.

I suppose my model of thought revolves around something like the afl Where "wages" and salary caps are closely tied to Viewing rights by the networks. After all we want to see the very best doing their best. Which takes full time focus.

apart from winning a gold in a high profile
sport I suspect most athletes in most sports struggle financially (well I have known some personally and they do).

Viewing across the globe must generate immense wealth (or at least distribute in from paying viewers to .. Some corporate groups). Why are the athletes themselves not sharing in this wealth distribution? Surely they should. Just because they chose to be the very best athlete they are still the best. Just like the best accountants, ennginners, whatever - they get paid what they are Worth - the highest. Why not these athletes? Where does this money flow?

I think the Olympics consumes a huge amount of money to stage, so viewing rights go to pay for this. I doubt there is a big fund somewhere where these profits accumulate.

No doubt the guys that coordinate this pay themselves well. Its human nature and if its like any big organisation the people there will feather their own nests and form a little bit of a club to keep themselves there. Sadly this is pretty normal. Then again, I could be wrong as I have never looked at how the committee is made up.

Would there be much money left over though? For a one-off event its probably absorbed in all the infrastructure costs.

I think there is a good argument for hosting though. All that spending in the economy lifts the level of activity and the economy picks up. Just like spending in a war lifts the economy.

In Sydney I think the Olympics made the economy boom. There was a lot of construction work and then the other services that need to be put in place all create that same flurry of activity. At least in Sydney it coincided with a chance to redevelop a part of the city that was pretty unused and created a hub for a lot more events and housing that was needed.

The IOC headquarters are in Lausanne Switzerland, google them, that where the money goes
The IOC is & has been full of graft and corruption for years, they are a massive organisation that has way too much influence over countries for years. The bribes and presents the IOC members receive/expect from governments are ridiculous
When Brisbane was going for the 92 Olympics one of the countries trying to win them gave the committee fur coats so another topped it by including women in their fur coat gifts

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FormulaNova said..

eppo said..
And I'm happy to have someone have a different point of view. It can be a dark place suspecting foul play all the time.

I suppose my model of thought revolves around something like the afl Where "wages" and salary caps are closely tied to Viewing rights by the networks. After all we want to see the very best doing their best. Which takes full time focus.

apart from winning a gold in a high profile
sport I suspect most athletes in most sports struggle financially (well I have known some personally and they do).

Viewing across the globe must generate immense wealth (or at least distribute in from paying viewers to .. Some corporate groups). Why are the athletes themselves not sharing in this wealth distribution? Surely they should. Just because they chose to be the very best athlete they are still the best. Just like the best accountants, ennginners, whatever - they get paid what they are Worth - the highest. Why not these athletes? Where does this money flow?

I think the Olympics consumes a huge amount of money to stage, so viewing rights go to pay for this. I doubt there is a big fund somewhere where these profits accumulate.

No doubt the guys that coordinate this pay themselves well. Its human nature and if its like any big organisation the people there will feather their own nests and form a little bit of a club to keep themselves there. Sadly this is pretty normal. Then again, I could be wrong as I have never looked at how the committee is made up.

Would there be much money left over though? For a one-off event its probably absorbed in all the infrastructure costs.

I think there is a good argument for hosting though. All that spending in the economy lifts the level of activity and the economy picks up. Just like spending in a war lifts the economy.

In Sydney I think the Olympics made the economy boom. There was a lot of construction work and then the other services that need to be put in place all create that same flurry of activity. At least in Sydney it coincided with a chance to redevelop a part of the city that was pretty unused and created a hub for a lot more events and housing that was needed.

Yep reasonable points.

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Gazuki said..

Mr Milk said..

Just a side note, why don't the Yanks win every shooting medal when guns is their national obsession?

Because they are not stable

#thebugle #andyzoltzman podcast for ordinary puns

Is this the Olympics or a high fashion shoot? Judging by the amount of false eyelashes, makeup, and hair colouring appearing in the track events, it seems there's as much race preparation occurring in the beautician salon as there is in the gym.

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Harrow said..
Is this the Olympics or a high fashion shoot? Judging by the amount of false eyelashes, makeup, and hair colouring appearing in the track events, it seems there's as much race preparation occurring in the beautician salon as there is in the gym.

Same scene at a Wind Surfing or Yacht racing comp....

I read in the paper this morning that a lot of people stayed up last night to try to catch a glimpse Yanny Hubbard's snatch.

Apparently they were all quite disappointed.

There was no snatch, just a flop.

Who'd have thought ?

Huge kudos to Andrew Hoy, competing in his 8th Olympics to win team Silver & Individual Bronze.
The only person to complete the competition on his dressage score was very impressive.
8 Olympics
3 Gold
2 Silver
1 Bronze
To have been able to produce a horse to that level over such a long time is remarkable. Especially in a sport where bad luck can shatter your dreams in an instant.
For me it was 32 years ago when I was in my first Olympic squad with Andrew, nice bloke.
Gee that made me feel old & I'm younger than him
(I know this a water sports forum, but just saying