http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/oly.../86427406/

Maybe not the best place to discuss but with several CUSA schools in all likelihood having an athlete or 2 competing figured it might be worth it especially with the slow time. I suspect part of the "issues" in the article is more or less the local people putting more pressure on the country to help out financially. HOWEVER, with all the problems from the Zika virus to what seems like a lack of security to health issues with the polluted water supplies, it almost seems like the biggest competetion is leaving 100% healthy.

(06-27-2016 02:04 PM)usm99 Wrote:  http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/oly.../86427406/

Maybe not the best place to discuss but with several CUSA schools in all likelihood having an athlete or 2 competing figured it might be worth it especially with the slow time. I suspect part of the "issues" in the article is more or less the local people putting more pressure on the country to help out financially. HOWEVER, with all the problems from the Zika virus to what seems like a lack of security to health issues with the polluted water supplies, it almost seems like the biggest competetion is leaving 100% healthy.

Brazil's current economic situation is solid proof of what happens when you get into bed with the paper tiger known as China.

(06-27-2016 02:13 PM)wh49er Wrote:  

(06-27-2016 02:04 PM)usm99 Wrote:  http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/oly.../86427406/

Maybe not the best place to discuss but with several CUSA schools in all likelihood having an athlete or 2 competing figured it might be worth it especially with the slow time. I suspect part of the "issues" in the article is more or less the local people putting more pressure on the country to help out financially. HOWEVER, with all the problems from the Zika virus to what seems like a lack of security to health issues with the polluted water supplies, it almost seems like the biggest competetion is leaving 100% healthy.

Brazil's current economic situation is solid proof of what happens when you get into bed with the paper tiger known as China.

exactly!

Do they still have "feces" floating in the bay ?

I feel bad for the athletes who train their whole lives only to be sold out by the IOC to have to compete in places unfit for the games.

(06-28-2016 02:30 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  Do they still have "feces" floating in the bay ?

Yes.

They were supposed to build like 8 new sewage treatment plants before the games. I think a European country even gave them the money to build them, but they only ended up building like 1 or 2. I don't remember the exact details, I read the story about 6 months ago.

Basically, they made a lot of promises to the IOC, then followed through on almost none of them.

Brazil has all the resources to be a major world power, but like so many other countries, they just can't get past political corruption to actually get ahead.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/oly.../86442106/

Another article and something that jump out:

Some 500 police investigators protested their unpaid salaries in front of their headquarters on Monday under the banner "Police prioritize people. The government prioritizes the Olympics." A second group protested in the international airport's arrivals terminal with a banner reading, in English, "Welcome to hell."

I wonder how many athletes will elect "not" to go, for their safety

That's terrible. If I were an athlete competing I'd honestly have reservations in going. Especially if you have a family and such.

(06-28-2016 04:18 PM)Cr8n Wrote:  That's terrible. If I were an athlete competing I'd honestly have reservations in going. Especially if you have a family and such.

Would hate to be an athlete in non-pool water sports

People that have been giving some of the NBA players a hard time for opting out should reconsider. If I was a multi-millionaire, NBA star I wouldn't risk it. Security is going to an issue, especially with ISIS apparently very active after today. The risk reward may be a little different for the "amateur" athletes, but the BB players, golfers, etc. are a different story.

(06-28-2016 10:59 PM)banker Wrote:  People that have been giving some of the NBA players a hard time for opting out should reconsider. If I was a multi-millionaire, NBA star I wouldn't risk it. Security is going to an issue, especially with ISIS apparently very active after today. The risk reward may be a little different for the "amateur" athletes, but the BB players, golfers, etc. are a different story.

you couldn't pay me enough of anything to participate in this current version of the five rainbow rings....

If you win gold can you hire private security to get you and your ~$500.00 US dollars around your neck out safely? I get the lifelong training stuff but given those state of affairs I'd be hard pressed to attend.

(06-29-2016 08:41 AM)Cr8n Wrote:  If you win gold can you hire private security to get you and your ~$500.00 US dollars around your neck out safely? I get the lifelong training stuff but given those state of affairs I'd be hard pressed to attend.

It's not that dangerous in Brazil... I just had friends down there last month on vacation. It's mostly business as usual in the tourist areas.

The people there aren't rioting and kidnapping tourists. They're protesting their corrupt government.

The rule of the land in Rio has always been stay the **** out of the slums.

a lot of fallout in the golf world of some of the biggest names opting out, Golf channel stop just short of criticizing these players decisions, and spent time phrasing players who will participate. Personally, I'm with you guys, no gold is worth jeopardizing my health and the health of my family, and that's just the health issues, my understanding is a large number of the participants will need additional bodyguards, Rio should have never been awarded the Olympics.

(06-29-2016 09:00 AM)Niner National Wrote:  

(06-29-2016 08:41 AM)Cr8n Wrote:  If you win gold can you hire private security to get you and your ~$500.00 US dollars around your neck out safely? I get the lifelong training stuff but given those state of affairs I'd be hard pressed to attend.

It's not that dangerous in Brazil... I just had friends down there last month on vacation. It's mostly business as usual in the tourist areas.

The people there aren't rioting and kidnapping tourists. They're protesting their corrupt government.

The rule of the land in Rio has always been stay the **** out of the slums.

that goes without saying in most foreign cities when traveling. know your surroundings and don't be stupid.

tough decision for the athletes.

(06-29-2016 09:15 AM)Cr8n Wrote:  

(06-29-2016 09:00 AM)Niner National Wrote:  

(06-29-2016 08:41 AM)Cr8n Wrote:  If you win gold can you hire private security to get you and your ~$500.00 US dollars around your neck out safely? I get the lifelong training stuff but given those state of affairs I'd be hard pressed to attend.

It's not that dangerous in Brazil... I just had friends down there last month on vacation. It's mostly business as usual in the tourist areas.

The people there aren't rioting and kidnapping tourists. They're protesting their corrupt government.

The rule of the land in Rio has always been stay the **** out of the slums.

that goes without saying in most foreign cities when traveling. know your surroundings and don't be stupid.

tough decision for the athletes.

And most of our own cities, unfortunately

This is why its dumb for poor countries to be awarded the Olympics---they have no business spending money of huge one-time-use stadiums when the basic needs of their people cannot be met. Frankly, the Olympics needs to rotate through a half dozen more developed nations. These nations can build those facilities and actually reuse them a few times. Greece would be the only "poor" country Id allow host (mainly because of the tradition and because some of the infrastructure is already there). Let the US, Russia, China, and a few others handle the majority of the games. That ends the corruption and makes sense.

(06-29-2016 10:06 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  This is why its dumb for poor countries to be awarded the Olympics---they have no business spending money of huge one-time-use stadiums when the basic needs of their people cannot be met. Frankly, the Olympics needs to rotate through a half dozen more developed nations. These nations can build those facilities and actually reuse them a few times. Greece would be the only "poor" country Id allow host (mainly because of the tradition and because some of the infrastructure is already there). Let the US, Russia, China, and a few others handle the majority of the games. That ends the corruption and makes sense.

I'd actually be fine with the olympics being in Greece every time.

(06-29-2016 09:00 AM)Niner National Wrote:  

(06-29-2016 08:41 AM)Cr8n Wrote:  If you win gold can you hire private security to get you and your ~$500.00 US dollars around your neck out safely? I get the lifelong training stuff but given those state of affairs I'd be hard pressed to attend.

It's not that dangerous in Brazil... I just had friends down there last month on vacation. It's mostly business as usual in the tourist areas.

The people there aren't rioting and kidnapping tourists. They're protesting their corrupt government.

The rule of the land in Rio has always been stay the **** out of the slums.

But for terrorists they realize that the Olympics is the perfect time/place for an act of violence because the whole world is watching and there will be an extra million or so visitors in a relative compact area. There's no real reason to attack there now knowing in 30 something days the numbers will be triple or more what it is now. I realize in no where near an Olympic athlete but I would not consider putting myself or family/friends health or life in jeopardy.