Hosting the Olympics has become financially untenable, economists say (edition.cnn.com)

submitted 1 month ago by neme@lemm.ee to c/olympics@sh.itjust.works

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[-] Dagwood222@lemm.ee 51 points 1 month ago

I was living in New York City back in 2012. Then -Mayor Bloomberg was hot as a firecracker to get the Olympics for New York City.

I didn't know any of my neighbors who gave a hoot.

It's a thing the elites love to have to boast about and a pain in the butt for the folks who have to pay for it, and have to get around the events when it's their town that hosts.

imho set up a permanent site in Athens and stick with that. Or pretend we have an interwebs and have various places do the different events with people watching online

[-] Oni_eyes@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 month ago

Maybe even hold the different sets of events in their most suitable months so it's not just one smorgasbord but bite sized world competitions.

[-] WaterSword@discuss.tchncs.de 12 points 1 month ago

I think what you’re describing is just the individual disciplines world cups. Having them all at diferent times would tank viewership for the less well known sports. Some smaller sports only get broadcast time on bug channels because they are in the olympics.

[-] Oni_eyes@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago

That's a fair point. Maybe bundle a lesser known sport with the really popular ones and alternate showing so that you can have rest and review periods for both?

[-] BruceTwarzen@lemm.ee -1 points 1 month ago

These are the spirts no one cares about: ah okay cool, got it. Why exactly are they in the Olympics then? Dunno.

[-] Dagwood222@lemm.ee 8 points 1 month ago

I can see that the whole 'Olympic Village' thing where all the athletes get together in one place is a big deal.

I'd go for one location to be reused.

[-] qarbone@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

I like the idea of a permanent Olympics site. Make it a recycled, floating island in the middle of international waters.

[-] makyo@lemmy.world 11 points 1 month ago

I feel like I have heard this every Olympics for decades but people still keep competing to host the games. It could just be that it’s about more than the money.

[-] theneverfox@pawb.social 1 points 1 month ago

Well if you think about it, it's pitched as a prestige thing, but I don't think that really holds up

So... If a city loses money for hosting it, where does that money go? Someone must be building the infrastructure

[-] cyr0catdrag0nz@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 month ago

Ehh economists will say this shit about anything that costs money, especially if it's fun or inspiring. I'm sure a lot of tourist cash is brought in irregardless