At it’s very basis, the Olympics are wholly and unequivocally a global event. As cliché as it sounds, it is a coming together of cultures for a positive reason. People often criticise that because of the way the games are broadcast and the way in which only ‘rich’ nations play host to the games, that it is entirely favouring these powerful nations. According to the critics, it is for this reason that the games are not a truly global event.
I would like to highlight several points:
There are only three nations who will not be competing in the 2012 Olympics; Vatican City (they never compete as citizens of Vatican City often come from neighbouring nations and tend to compete under that flag), South Sudan (the country was only established in 2011 and does not have an Olympic committee yet) and Kosovo (currently not recognised by the UN as a separate nation).
There are over 200 nations competing. Even the tiny nation of Buthan has a team. The team may only be made up of 2 people (who didn't even qualify for the games) but under IOC guidelines; all nations with an Olympic committee can take part, regardless of team size or ability. Simply having the addition of this IOC regulation (chapter 5, part 2,) shows that the games are striving to be a global event by including as many nations as they possibly can. I mean, even North Korea has a team…c’mon.
I understand that nations can only host the games if they have the economic means but isn't this just common sense? If a nation can't afford to build stadiums, an athletes village and other infrastructure upgrades then why have it there? If a nation goes bankrupt after building stadiums eg Greece. The Greek government spent $11 billion on stadium developments and $1.6 billion on a brand new airport capable of handling the traffic for the games (Malfas, Theodoraki & Houlihan, 2004, p. 215). For most small nations the consequences for having the games are much worse than not having them..
References:
Malfas, M, Theodoraki, E & Houlihan, B 2004, ‘Impacts of the Olympic Games as mega-events’, Municipal Engineer, vol. 157, no. 3, p. 209-220, retrieved 10 August, <http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/handle/2100/993/muen.157.3.209.49461.pdf?sequence=1>
Great post. I agree with you on the part that smaller nations do not host the olympics for a reason that is perfectly reasonable. The olympics being hosted in nations that can afford the infrastructure to host should not be seen as a sort of exclusivity to wealthy nations. The gathering of nations around the globe to any location is what makes the olympics a truly global event. Other than that, I really liked the Futurama reference via the picture, I always loved that joke. Well done.
ReplyDeleteHey Lloyd,
ReplyDeleteYou sound like you would be quite a good advocate for the Olympic Games. The beginning of your post centred on media and the Olympic Games but then that was it. Although I found your statistics extremely interesting, this is all that seemed to be in your blog. Therefore the essence of why you were saying these statistics and comments seemed to be irrelevant. If you finished with a little connection back to the media scene and globalisation at the end of your piece it would strengthen it considerably as an overall discussion paper on the issue you raised in the first paragraph and not just the statistics through the entire piece. I did learn some geography and Olympic titbits though :)
Hi Lloyd :)
ReplyDeleteYou have brought up some really interesting and engaging points, you've informed me about things that I did not know before, until now. Well done on your research! I think it's great how you've brought up points about different countries in relation to their ‘participation’, or for some their inability to participate. It's always great to read a blog that is very clear and concise, I can really hear that inner voice of yours coming through in your writing. The last point you made about countries hosting the Olympics, I completely agree... I think the main thing is allowing as many countries to participate as possible, regardless of skill or numbers... those that can host games... let them do it!
Well done! Keep up the great work!! :)
Hi Lloyd. I really enjoyed your post. I like how you demonstrated the research you’ve done throughout your blog in terms of the variation of nations that do and don’t complete at the Olympics. It was quite captivating and I like the casual undertone within your piece as it is easier to relate to and doesn’t bore the reader. I think what would’ve made your piece stronger was if you concluded with your perception as opposed to leaving it somewhat open ended but overall, a great article.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog about the Olympics to have quite a lot of value in it's assessment of the games as a truly Global event; the statistics do speak for themselves and that coupled with the international media coverage captures the positive worldwide sentiment that is reserved for the event. No other sporting spectacle is really so inclusive or that invites such spirited displays of multiculturalism even if it is the most well developed nations that take out the majority of the medals
ReplyDeleteI really liked reading your blog. I think that you give excellent and relevant examples of why the Olympic Games are a global event. I agree that for some countries it will be much more harmful for them to be hosts of the Games. I liked that you used Greece as an example of this even though there is more to the financial situation in Greece than being host of the Games in 2004.
ReplyDeleteA fantastic relevant outlook on nations hosting the games. I think you had great reference support and seem to be very knowledgeable on the subject having a high understanding of the teams and countries participating in the Games. Your writing was friendly and approachable so I found it easy to read and it came across as original and personal. Well done.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting thought on the Olympic games with an inside perspective on IOC regulations. Your thoughts are relevant to a globalised event that many people haven’t differing views on. It would be nice to see some scholarly sources to back up your argument, or to argue against, but either way it is solid post. You’ve nicely acknowledged critical views on the Olympics but comfortably swatted them aside with good, positive knowledge of your own.
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