You would think Colorado would be the perfect place for the Winter Olympics, and it is, but almost 50 years ago Denver was given the 76 Winter Games only to have the citizens vote it down. That is why you have never seen the Olympics staged here where I live. I love sports, but if any industry has grown more than professional sports in the last 60 years I don't know what it is. Just looking at the value of NFL and Premier League franchises tells you it is ridiculous to believe they couldn't finance all the operations necessary for their sports by themselves. And if a sport can't do that, then why on Earth should taxpayers who don't give a whit about such a sport be forced to pay for any aspect of it's operation?
As usual, an inspiring example of integration! Synthesizing both the good and bad from facts of reality - including the political reality in which exists the timeless value of peaceful physical competition!
Upon reflection of the value of the Olympics, I always become focused on another dilemma. Do the inescapable facts necessitated by the competition - i.e., the gathering; sharing of values and perspectives; the respect, "getting-to-know" your competitors and fellow competitive human beings; FURTHER the cause of freedom and individual responsibility (in this case expressed as "competitiveness"), or does the POLITICS that currently constitutes much of the context of these games, HARM the cause of freedom/individual responsibility?
Yes, I detest the incidents in which politics emerges. I do so when I reflect on the fact that the "mothers-milk" of politics - i.e., government MONEY, and the influence "private" money serving and "complimenting" it, drives the administration of The Olympics.
However, I have come to believe the issue is much like the "issue" of freedom of speech. The answer is MORE of it! MORE of the shared exhilaration of witnessing peaceful physical competition at its best! When politics intrudes and physical competition becomes political spectacle, to hell with it! It becomes seen for what it is and further properly exposes politics for what it has become! Meanwhile, MORE competition!
You would think Colorado would be the perfect place for the Winter Olympics, and it is, but almost 50 years ago Denver was given the 76 Winter Games only to have the citizens vote it down. That is why you have never seen the Olympics staged here where I live. I love sports, but if any industry has grown more than professional sports in the last 60 years I don't know what it is. Just looking at the value of NFL and Premier League franchises tells you it is ridiculous to believe they couldn't finance all the operations necessary for their sports by themselves. And if a sport can't do that, then why on Earth should taxpayers who don't give a whit about such a sport be forced to pay for any aspect of it's operation?
I remember the 1984 Los Angeles games. It was an inspiring example that the games could be profitable. I had hoped that this would continue...
As usual, an inspiring example of integration! Synthesizing both the good and bad from facts of reality - including the political reality in which exists the timeless value of peaceful physical competition!
Upon reflection of the value of the Olympics, I always become focused on another dilemma. Do the inescapable facts necessitated by the competition - i.e., the gathering; sharing of values and perspectives; the respect, "getting-to-know" your competitors and fellow competitive human beings; FURTHER the cause of freedom and individual responsibility (in this case expressed as "competitiveness"), or does the POLITICS that currently constitutes much of the context of these games, HARM the cause of freedom/individual responsibility?
Yes, I detest the incidents in which politics emerges. I do so when I reflect on the fact that the "mothers-milk" of politics - i.e., government MONEY, and the influence "private" money serving and "complimenting" it, drives the administration of The Olympics.
However, I have come to believe the issue is much like the "issue" of freedom of speech. The answer is MORE of it! MORE of the shared exhilaration of witnessing peaceful physical competition at its best! When politics intrudes and physical competition becomes political spectacle, to hell with it! It becomes seen for what it is and further properly exposes politics for what it has become! Meanwhile, MORE competition!
Another great piece, Anders.
Dave