But sport has nothing to do with politics, does it?

Bahahahahaha!!!

Olympic host nations are chosen for political and economic reasons only.

Name one host nation that hadn’t had an economic boom in the 5-10 years leading up to their being chosen to host the Olympics - it’s a chance to show off to the world how far you’ve come and gee look now we can afford to do this… It’s a publicity stunt on a grand scale and justified by the usual mix of political inclusiveness and a dose of the warm and fuzzy’s.

China would have seen all this coming and made the decision that they could weather the storm. China only cares about the Chinese, and the Chinese will see a perfect games that the world supports wholeheartedly - because that is all that will make it past the Great FireWall of China.

But then again, as someone who doesn’t actually see the point of sport, doesn’t watch any or support any teams and would happily see the end of AFL, I could be biased

It’s not just for the Olympics. It’s much more universal than that. It’s why their highways and railways etc are built as they are. No unnecessary twist and turns. It’s a no contest when it comes to social needs versus individual rights.

A town planner’s dream.’

Not just town planners, engineers too, probably anyone who likes designing ‘big’ things. I have a hazy recollections that many, many people have to move because of some of the enormous dam projects. Whole towns and villages are going/gone(?) under the water. I hope somebody knows want I’m referring to and can provide more details.

Civil Rights? Spirit of Friendship? The Olympics? Yeah. Right. “Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.” The Olympics? You’ve got to be kidding! “Sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.” Don’t make me laugh!

The Olympic spirit as “promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity”? Just as in Ancient Greece, perhaps? Nothing about the Olympics as WarGames? Intense state rivalry?

Every time the Olympic Games are held in August, I recall the massacre, by Xerses’ Persians, of Leonidas’s small Greek force at Thermopylæ (Aug 11 480BC; Gregorian Calendar) and the “religious restrictions” and other “religious” excuses that left 300 Spartans, their 900 Helots and 700 Thespians other Greeks (but not many) 400 Theban hostages and a Malian Greek traitor, Ephilates, facing and army of hundreds of thousands Persians. What was “religious” excuse for the absence of most of the other Greeks, especially Athenians? Guess!

Which Greek state’s citizens won most of the events at almost every Olympics? Not at 480 BC’s they didn’t!

Mind you, Thermopylæ was pay-back for the Battle of Marathon, at which c7-9,000 Athenians & Platæan hoplites, outnumbered about 6/7 to 1 by Perians, pulled off a stunning (but not decisive) victory, leaving Athenian herald called (depending on the source) Pheidippides, or Thersipus of Erchius or Eucles, to run to Athens, and (depending etc) proclaim the Victory/ warn the Athenians of further attack. The Spartan excuse for being absent was …? The need to attend to “religious” celebrations!

Until 1936, the Modern Olympics reflected late Victorian-Era idealism. From 1936 onwards, they more closely reflect the original Olympics, especially those held during the Greeks’ intense state rivalry that would eventually lead to the Peloponnesian War, Macedonian Ascendancy & defeat by Rome - which continued to hold the Games, any games - Circuses (very apt)!

The Olympics are great sporting spectacles. Enjoy the opening & closing ceremonies, the competition, the great triumphs (especially Oz triumphs)- the full Circus. Just forget the chunderously pious “Olympism” and remember, during all the hype, glory and defeat, the “Olympic Spirit” that left Leonidas and his men “hung out to dry” at Thermopylæ.

extent of the internal displacement taking place in order to create nice new shiny olympic venues.

It’s not just for the Olympics. It’s much more universal than that. It’s why their highways and railways etc are built as they are. No unnecessary twist and turns. It’s a no contest when it comes to social needs versus individual rights.

A town planner’s dream.

But sport has nothing to do with politics, does it?

When people (usually they’re hopeful athletes) parrot that question, I always think of Jesse Owens.

Maybe it’s time ordinary people around the world reclaimed sport for their own enjoyment …. and left “sport[?]” to those stupid enough to obey the wishes of political powers, commercial interests and the entertainment industry.

Last night’s SBS-TV Insight program on poker machine addiction showed where local sports teams have gone. We have seen good rugged contact sports turned into thug-and-thump; what’s next …. the brutality of Rollerball or a return of the gladiators? And then there’s the Olympics.

Anyone for a pleasant afternoon with a tennis ball, a flat bit of wood and a cardboard box in the backyard with a few neighbours?

There is a very good ITN report about him here:

http://chinastudies.blip.tv/file/309056/