These Olympics "appear" to have the making of one of the biggest, if not the single biggest, disasters in Olympic history. From the feces in the water to the venues possibly not being ready to the unrest of the locals as well as security issues, this might set the stage to where only certain countries are allowed to host. I was reading an article earlier this week where it said that local police departments didn't have enough funds to put gas in their cars past this weekend unless the government gave them more funds as theirs have been depleted. I feel for the athletes who've trained possibly for years for this moment only to have it possibly end like this.
(This post was last modified: 06-30-2016 09:31 AM by usm99.)
(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.
For an athlete, participating in the Olympics is the highest order of recognition. So, I expect most athletes will happily go. Maybe with a very minimal exception of the highly paid crybabies who value their bank account more than their country's pride.
(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.
For an athlete, participating in the Olympics is the highest order of recognition. So, I expect most athletes will happily go. Maybe with a very minimal exception of the highly paid crybabies who value their bank account more than their country's pride.
So, if you made $20MM a year plus endorsements of $100MM a year like LeBron James, you would set that aside and go risk Zika, terrorist attacks, underfunded security and social unrest (along as the usual stuff like risk of injury and no recovery time from a long NBA season) to compete for what, a third gold medal?
(06-30-2016 09:31 AM)usm99 Wrote: this might set the stage to where only certain countries are allowed to host.
I agree. Just put one or two places on each continent for each of the summer/winter sports (where applicable, of course...Africa will obviously not be hosting the Winter Olympics) and install permanent facilities and transportation/housing infrastructure. Then rotate and potentially adjust as needed in response to long-term political/governmental changes.
(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.
For an athlete, participating in the Olympics is the highest order of recognition. So, I expect most athletes will happily go. Maybe with a very minimal exception of the highly paid crybabies who value their bank account more than their country's pride.
So, if you made $20MM a year plus endorsements of $100MM a year like LeBron James, you would set that aside and go risk Zika, terrorist attacks, underfunded security and social unrest (along as the usual stuff like risk of injury and no recovery time from a long NBA season) to compete for what, a third gold medal?
I think the media makes much more of a deal about Zika virus than it should. The symptoms are very mild and most people never have to go to a hospital for it. Basically it's between a cold and the flu with some allergy symptoms like red eyes and rash thrown in. I think many athletes will risk that and terrorism (which is a legitimate concern) with little thought. I understand your argument about players like Lebron who have been there a few times, but many of these future Olympians (especially those in track and field/gymnastics/etc.) won't get this opportunity again. This pretty much is the pinnacle of their sports lives....what they've been training for literally their entire lives.
I'm sure it will be recommended that each athlete bring their own supply of water and amenities in preparation (sorry swimmers). For the security concerns, I think Rio will ask for help from random security companies like G4S and maybe even other countries.
(This post was last modified: 07-05-2016 08:35 PM by EagleNationRising.)
Zika is mild to the person who gets it, but can be devastating if you plan to reproduce at some point. Many stories of athletes freezing sperm before they go in case they are infected and want want to have kids in the future.
(07-05-2016 09:16 PM)banker Wrote: Zika is mild to the person who gets it, but can be devastating if you plan to reproduce at some point. Many stories of athletes freezing sperm before they go in case they are infected and want want to have kids in the future.
that's just crazy shite.....that's beyond insane....
I live in Ohio, already 7 documented cases of Zika pregnacies in the state. In each case at least one of the parents had been somewhere in South America in the 6 months preceding conception. So the risk is real.
(This post was last modified: 07-05-2016 09:41 PM by banker.)
