Olympics: By the Rich For the Rich

[Cryptoad]

Poor Working Folks have been run out of the games!

[Stubborn]

1. Huh?

[Atman]

2. I get it.

A great story about this on WGBH/NPR Boston the other day (Boston withdrew their bid for the Olympics). Locals are often displaced (as in Brazil), and property taken. What surprised me is that many major sports events, Olympics, World Cup, etc, require legal contracts which often (usually) override the host nation's own constitution. Seriously. In order to host these prestigious events, host nations must turn over their own security to the sports organizations. In the end, they're usually stuck with white elephant stadiums that can't be used for anything else but museums.

A great idea was put forth...have five or six cities, which have already hosted the Olympics and already have the stadiums and dormitories, be permanent Host Cities for the Olympics, with the games rotating among the cities on an quadrennial basis. It makes perfect sense.