Is it worth it?

The congestion, possible terrorist attack, the expense of course, particularly in times like now.

I am a great believer for several reasons, but what do you think, are they great as long as they are far enough away not cause indigestion let alone congestion.

Or can't you wait?

My uncle regails in telling me about watching Cassius Clay in the Rome Olympics, the U.S Mary Decker and the bare footed South African Zola Budd becoming entangled

I remember the tension of Wales v Ireland 2009, the glorious drop goal of Ronan OGara and the horror of the penalty award and eventual miss of Stephen Jones to award Ireland their first Grand Slam in 61 years

Maybe you went to Knebworth for Williams

To see Hamilton win the Title on the final bend

Spectate the procession of Princess Diana, or listen to the speech of her brother

But my question was the expense, the bother, the difficulties they caused, was it worth it?

In recent Olympics no for me....the last great one I think was 1984....but not due to the American influence...perhaps the personalities involved.

Too focused on sprints and relays etc nowadays...and of course drug testing.

Umm, can agree to a certain extent, you had Lewis in '88. baffled by his second place to a drugged up Johnson

Radcliffe and Redgrave although fairly dour people, crickey I think in regard to personalities, I think I am beginning to agree with you.

But then I remember the little corporal in the 400m

I'm a big fan of the Olympic Games - both Summer and Winter. I think the benefits of exposure for the host city and investment in facilities and infrastructure far outweigh the inconveniences. Of course, some place like London probably isn't benefiting as much as a place like Beijing so in their case maybe it isn't worth it.

The modern Olympics is too all-embracing. It should be primarily about events for single athletes which are not covered by world championships. (The World Athletics Championship post-dates the modern Olympics)

For example, football has its own World Cup, Tennis has four Grand Slams a year. The trouble is that these events, football in particular, are the money-spinners.

I'm a big fan of the Olympic Games - both Summer and Winter. I think the benefits of exposure for the host city and investment in facilities and infrastructure far outweigh the inconveniences. Of course, some place like London probably isn't benefiting as much as a place like Beijing so in their case maybe it isn't worth it.

There those who arguably say that the Athens Olympics played a big part in the demise of the Greek economy.

Locog (the clowns that are 'organising' the London Olympics) are concerned not with the athletes, not with the general public, but with the men-in-power, sonsors, political and on the IOC.

For instance, the traffic lanes around London - supposedly to get the athletes and officials to their events on time. The athletes competing in Stratford are living in the Olympic village, yards from their event venues. The timekeepers and other minor officials are living in accommodation close to their events. It is the bigwigs who have occupied Mayfair and Kensington. Not necessary to the actual competitive events, they will be swilling their shampoo in their hotel rooms until it is almost too late to get to the events, for which they have free tickets, so they need these traffic lanes so that their free BMW transport can take them to the events in comfort, swilling even more champagne.

The events taking part outside London, such as sailing and so on, don't require these traffic lanes, yet the competitors do not have an Olympic village to live in. They have to make their own way to their venues.

The ridiculous expense of the opening night show is nothing to do with the Olympics. I attended several days of the 1948 games (I was eleven and just turned up at the gates and bought a ticket) and I cannot recall any fuss at the start - just someone lighting the flame. Can't remember who. I do remember Zatopek and Fanny Blankers-Koen, other athletes if I concentrate. But advertising - no. Sponsors - no. Successful Games - yes.

Get rid of brown-nosers like Coe and his pals, put this back to an athletics / shooting / rowing / bla bla contest between the best in the world and televise it. That should bring in enough income to run the games and attract the athletes.

I attended the Munich Olympics where the Israeli athletes were murdered by Palestinian terrorists. Also the Mark Spitz Olympics. I was only a boy at the time, traveling independently, sleeping on public floors supplied by the city, trading tickets on the public square to get into some events. I got to see a young neighbor from back home compete in women's gymnastics. Are these events worth it? I would say yes.

BTW, Israel asked there to be a remembrance of the Munich victims at the opening ceremony in London. Something the families have been asking for 40 years. The Olympic committee said no. I think that is disgusting!

I'd love to be on the Col du Tourmalet during the Tour.

I'd love to be on the Col du Tourmalet during the Tour.

On yer bike, then!!

Well, the preliminaries to the Olympics are under way.

Football (both men and women)(on different matches) has started before the opening ceremony.

There is one really daft event happening tomorrow - at eight-twelve in the morning all the bells in the country will be rung (except in my house). Why 08.12 you ask? - because it's twelve hours before 20.12!! This is the degree of stupidity that the organisers (Seb Coe and the rest of Locog) demonstrate when thinking on their own and not just obeying their multinational junk-food sponsors.

The

Olympics is creating a “ghost town” effect in central London as visitors who would normally flock to the capital’s shops, hotels and theatres stay away, casting doubt on expectations of a short-term economic boost from the games.

The games have attracted as many as 100,000 foreign visitors to London – more than in previous Olympics. But, on its own, that number significantly lags behind the estimated 300,000 foreign tourists who could be expected in a typical year.

read more:

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/0767327a-da6d-11e1-902d-00144feab49a.html#axzz22D7ta0b3

The Olympics is creating a “ghost town” effect in central London as visitors who would normally flock to the capital’s shops, hotels and theatres stay away, casting doubt on expectations of a short-term economic boost from the games.

The games have attracted as many as 100,000 foreign visitors to London – more than in previous Olympics. But, on its own, that number significantly lags behind the estimated 300,000 foreign tourists who could be expected in a typical year.

read more: http://www.ft.com/in...l#axzz22D7ta0b3

From what I've read on these fora, and the experience of my own family, it has been a success in stirring up patriotic feeling - particularly important in advance of a referendum on Scotland's secessionist descent into anarchy

SC

The

Olympics is creating a “ghost town” effect in central London as visitors who would normally flock to the capital’s shops, hotels and theatres stay away, casting doubt on expectations of a short-term economic boost from the games.

The games have attracted as many as 100,000 foreign visitors to London – more than in previous Olympics. But, on its own, that number significantly lags behind the estimated 300,000 foreign tourists who could be expected in a typical year.

read more:

http://www.ft.com/in...l#axzz22D7ta0b3

Chicken Little is alive and well and living in England. There again he always was. He must have crept onto the Mayflower when no-one was looking.

From what I've read on these fora, and the experience of my own family, it has been a success in stirring up patriotic feeling - particularly important in advance of a referendum on Scotland's secessionist descent into anarchy

You're a big fan of Wee Alex then?

I'd love to be on the Col du Tourmalet during the Tour.

Or La Plane

And they're riding proper bikes too! You can still get a Mercian hand-built out of Reynolds where I'm from. Hand cut lugs and achingly beautiful frames. None of this aluminium rubbish - all aero grade steel. I wanted to work there when I left school but was told I'd be working in a bank. A nice 'safe' job. I lasted 7 months

http://www.merciancy...ncitore-special

Did you know that all Olympic medals come with a cash prize? Bronze, $10k; Silver, $15k; Gold, $25k. For American athletes, the IRS will take $3500 for each bronze, $5385 for each silver and nearly $9000 for each gold.

So as of this writing, swimmer Missy Franklin—who's a high school student—is already on the hook for almost $14,000. By the time she's done in the pool, her tab could be much higher. (That is, unless she has to decline the prize money to placate the NCAA—the only organization in America whose nuttiness rivals the IRS.)

ATR notes that the real twist of the knife is that most other Olympians won't pay

any

taxes on their medals because America is one of only a handful of countries which taxes "worldwide" prize income earned overseas.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/go-gold-pay-irs_649187.html

Did you know that all Olympic medals come with a cash prize? Bronze, $10k; Silver, $15k; Gold, $25k. For American athletes, the IRS will take $3500 for each bronze, $5385 for each silver and nearly $9000 for each gold.

No they don't. Medalists may get a cash prize from their own government depending on where they live. If they live in the UK they get no cash prize but may appear on a postage stamp eventually. Don't try and blame the greed of the IRS on anyone else but the US goverment.

Did you know that all Olympic medals come with a cash prize? Bronze, $10k; Silver, $15k; Gold, $25k. For American athletes, the IRS will take $3500 for each bronze, $5385 for each silver and nearly $9000 for each gold.

No they don't. Medalists may get a cash prize from their own government depending on where they live. If they live in the UK they get no cash prize but may appear on a postage stamp eventually. Don't try and blame the greed of the IRS on anyone else but the US goverment.

Endure:

I don't believe the article was blaming anybody BUT the IRS. Did you miss the following sentences?

(That is, unless she has to decline the prize money to placate the NCAA—the only organization in America whose nuttiness rivals the IRS.)

and this:

ATR notes that the real twist of the knife is that most other Olympians won't pay any taxes on their medals because America is one of only a handful of countries which taxes "worldwide" prize income earned overseas.

But still, there is no prize money offered by the IOC or the organisers of the Games (in the current position - Loco g 2012).

Some governments or other organisations may give cash awards to medal winners of particular countries, but this is not official policy.

In the case of US athletes there may be a 'tariff' set for medallists, and the US IRS may be aware of this and tax accordingly, but surely if the medallist is still in school/college and has no other income that year, then there would be no taxable income to declare, as the winnings would be under the threshold.

But still, there is no prize money offered by the IOC or the organisers of the Games (in the current position - Loco g 2012).

Some governments or other organisations may give cash awards to medal winners of particular countries, but this is not official policy.

In the case of US athletes there may be a 'tariff' set for medallists, and the US IRS may be aware of this and tax accordingly, but surely if the medallist is still in school/college and has no other income that year, then there would be no taxable income to declare, as the winnings would be under the threshold.

The tax liability must be a real threat. Sen. Rubio is proposing an exception be granted.

________________________________________________________

Rubio bill eliminates federal tax on Olympic medals

By Stephen Dinan-The Washington Times Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Sen. Marco Rubio introduced a bill Wednesday to eliminate the federal government’s tax on Olympic medals, saying the levy amounted to yet another way the government tries to punish those who succeed.

Athletes who win a gold medal also earn a $25,000 honorarium — and with it an $8,986 tax bill to the IRS, according to Americans for Tax Reform, which crunched the numbers. That covers both the honorarium and the tax on the value of the gold in the medal itself.

The silver medal tax comes to $5,385, and the bronze medal tax is $3,502 — including $2 for the value of the bronze medal itself, and the $10,000 honorarium.

http://www.washingto...olympic-medals/

Those who think that congestion will be a problem at the Olympics, don't know London. August is traditionally the holiday period three and many of the streets outside the tourist centres are deserted.

If anyone can cope with "terrorism" - it is London.

(My experience in Sydney was it so unprepared it was astounding)

Weather - athletes have had several years to prepare for the weather....just part of their preparation.

Queen looked a bit grumpy and ruffled - then that was probably due to the parachute jump?

THe Brits deserve to be congratulated on the opening ceremony.

In contrast to IOC, Lord Coe and Co. rather than a succession of quasi military marching bands and pompous dignitaries, Danny Boyle has concentrated on UK achievements, working people and a society that at least TRIES historically to care.

I noticed they even included a couple of bars from "God Save the Queen" by the Sex Pistols

Particularly liked the tribute to the NHS.

Did you know that all Olympic medals come with a cash prize? Bronze, $10k; Silver, $15k; Gold, $25k. For American athletes, the IRS will take $3500 for each bronze, $5385 for each silver and nearly $9000 for each gold.

Don't try and blame the greed of the IRS on anyone else but the US goverment.

Lame. Wherever did I "try and blame the greed of the IRS on anyone else"?

In the case of US athletes there may be a 'tariff' set for medallists, and the US IRS may be aware of this and tax accordingly, but surely if the medallist is still in school/college and has no other income that year, then there would be no taxable income to declare, as the winnings would be under the threshold.

For athletes still in school, if they intend to continue to compete at the amateur level after the Olympics, they must refuse the prize money. Otherwise they will be considered professionals and no longer eligible to compete as amateurs.

Queen looked a bit grumpy and ruffled - then that was probably due to the parachute jump?

The Queen was probably grumpy because it was past her bedtime. Most people that age go to bed quite early.

But still, there is no prize money offered by the IOC or the organisers of the Games (in the current position - Loco g 2012).

That's a good thing because they couldn't afford it with the 1000+ medals awarded.

For athletes who aren't famous they don't get sponsorship money, they usually have regular low paying day jobs so a cash award must be great.

One female Brit Olympian weightlifter's day job is as a garbage collector:

Day Jobs of 12 Olympians

http://www.savvysugar.com/Day-Jobs-Olympians-2012-24192842?slide=12

Queen looked a bit grumpy and ruffled - then that was probably due to the parachute jump?

The Queen was probably grumpy because it was past her bedtime. Most people that age go to bed quite early.

A rather shallow comment to a throwaway piece of humour - what is worth the time?

A rather shallow comment

So far, that seems to describe all of your posts in OTB quite well.

Queen looked a bit grumpy and ruffled - then that was probably due to the parachute jump?

The Queen was probably grumpy because it was past her bedtime. Most people that age go to bed quite early.

A rather shallow comment to a throwaway piece of humour - what is worth the time?

You are too sensitive. Not a shallow comment at all nor an attempt at humor - unlike your parachute quip.

However, despite being royalty, she is still an 86-yr old human being as as such it is HIGHLY unlikely that she is used to staying up until midnight, let alone 21:00. I know someone around that age who calls it a night at 19:00.