And I’m not just talking about what goes on in the village after the athletes finish competing!
I’m talking about the repeated, mutli-media, doomish press narrative, seemingly written by journalist Negative Nancy, telling us all why the Rio 2016 Olympics are going to be a failure and we will see some of the worst examples of human spirit, whether it be bankrupt governments, disorganised event management, cheats, muggings, thieving opportunists, body parts on the beach, hygiene, and every other problem imaginable.
All of the above will most likely happen at the Olympics this year, and as horribly regrettable as they are, the show will go on. As I reflect on my Olympic experiences across London, Beijing and Athens, they have all happened before.
In London the press narrative was the contempt Londoners felt towards hosting an Olympics. Instead they needed community investment into a broken city after the riots of 2011. In Beijing, it was about pollution and the safety of the athletes’ windpipes, as well as the hygiene of the food and our poo pipes. And in Athens, the press narrative was about how unprepared the venues were going to be, and I experienced that first hand…
As a fresh-faced, hair farming 24-year-old I was at my first Olympics as the reserve for the rowing team. All the venues were rushed to be finished in time. I was taken on a tour of the Athlete’s Village (as a rowing reserve you’re not accredited to live in the Athletes’ Village) the day before the Opening Ceremony and there was still bulldozers levelling huge piles of dirt to finish the landscaping.
50km out of town, at the rowing course, a shiny, brand new boat storage, offices and athlete training facility had been built. I completed my first training session there, to maintain preparedness in case anyone needed a reserve to fill in.
Afterwards, I eventually navigated my way through a poorly-designed maze of corridors to find the showers. Standing underneath a row of showerheads, I turned one of the taps and no water flowed. I tried the next one. Still nothing. Tried another, and the tap was a little loose and turning it, the tap came off the wall in my hand. There I was holding a lone shower tap, naked, staring at a gaping hole in the wall, with nothing behind it.
No plumbing.
It would be cool to think it was my Olympic strength that ripped the tap off the wall, but reality is the Athenians had rushed the completion; plumbing would’ve obviously slowed that down, so best they tile the walls and stick the taps on for the final inspection.
Luckily, the Athens Olympics aren’t remembered for that awkward showerless moment. It’s not always a fairytale for the athletes or for the host city, but the Olympics are a chance for the best spirit to be revealed by a country. For some it’s the best in human spirit, the best in athleticism, as well as the triumph of the Games going ahead despite so many things that can (and do) go wrong at such a large event.
And despite the risk of disasters, I’d still be going this year if I could. The Olympics are something I’ve never regretted going to… and doubt I ever would.
The Olympics should be about the athletes, and the performances haven’t started yet. The press needs something grubby to talk about, hence the cluster of problems reported daily. But it’s my hope once the cameras focus on incredible athletes at the start line, we will remember what is good about the biggest sporting event in the world.
Who knows yet what incredible displays of Olympic strength will be exposed, but that’s why we watch… because unlike other types of reality TV, the script hasn’t been written yet.
All the ‘problems’ being reported in Rio de Janeiro existed before the games arrived, and one thing the Olympics does is puts a bright spotlight on the host city and nation, and that can be one of the good things about the Games. The awareness that Rio isn’t all bikinis and feathered headdresses, may end up honing some attention directed towards the less fortunate. With so many people in one hotbed of a city, you will get all types, good and bad… just like you do in the mini-city that is the Olympic Athletes’ Village (but more about that next time).
It’s also my hope now there’s greater awareness and discussion about Rio, and because of that exposing spotlight those in positions of responsibility and capability do something about the quality of life for the battlers of Brazil, and that’s where the Olympic spirit can be used for good.
commonwombat
Guest
I am fully aware of the current state, and limitations of LA's mass transit. It's peak capacity is nowhere near sufficient to handle the volumes nor is its scope sufficient and its completely unrealistic to expect that gap to be plugged in the 7 year lag time between winning the rights and hosting the show. Mike, at least some of those cities you name would be better than Atlanta ..... but that;s a pretty damned low base to work off !! Doesn't mean they're viable options as host cities
Punter
Guest
You don't have to watch it!!!!. I will enjoy it, I enjoy the swimming, football, Athletics & some of the more unusual events that only gets focus every four years. Their own world championships don't get the media attention. It's the off season anyway!!!!
Jeff Morris
Guest
I'm for abolishing the whole thing myself. Some are proposing for holding the different sports in different countries at the same time. Why not just let each of the sports run their own world championships whenever they want, which most of them do now. In my opinion the olympics "past due" date is well past expiration. Its become a spoiled smorgasbord of sports with nothing in common thrown together for 2 weeks; it gives me sporting indigestion.
Jeff Morris
Guest
In fact, the transit system in LA is much better today than 30 years ago. Its actually not bad. The problem is that the population has continued to grow faster than the transportation system can keep up with it, particularly the freeway system. I think it could work though, but I don't think taxpayers want to pay for it.
Nick Padol
Guest
Well said James. Interesting to see what happens from one athlete's perspective.
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Commonwombat How about San Diego, Houston, Dallas , Seattle , Denver , Boston , Miami , Tampa , Orlando , Phoenix ?? All these cities are far better equipped than Atlanta ever was .
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Surely Melbourne deserves it evey four years , after all , they had to import 250,000 Victorians to Sydney to fill the events !
commonwombat
Guest
London was excellent, and on par with Sydney. Despite the pre Games media groaning, Londoners took to it like Sydneysiders did. LA wouldn't workl. You cannot compare 32 years ago (where they were able to go cheap & nasty with many venues on a semi-boycotted Games) to now. LA's mass transit isnt up to it; the only two US cities with the capacity would be NYC (who you wouldn't give it to) & Chicago.
Fadida
Guest
I'd like all cyclists to ride the same bikes too, preferably BMX with wheatbix cards between the spokes and an orange flag on the back :)
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
I agree with you James. I cant believe some of the outrageous stuff going around. I dont know if you saw this article on what the chinese media is whipping up thanks to its disastisfied athletes at Rio? Remarks like calling London 2012 he worst ever is just unbelievable. I was in London in 2012, went to multiple events as a spectator, and was just blown away by the quality of the organizations and the events and infrastructure. On the other hand, at Beijing 2008 it was difficult to breathe sometimes, the closing ceremony showed on TV had fake fireworks just in case something went wrong, etc. Coal calling the kettle black was never more evident. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36944741
Dean
Guest
I think they should go one step further and hold the next Olympics somewhere like Zambia and tell the athletes to bring a tent and bedding. No new hotels, no new facilities, just local stuff for a local experience. The true athletes will still stand out. The prima-donnas will struggle or not show up (for the better).
BigAl
Guest
Spot on Dean - the Olympics may hope (and pretend?) to be many things but a window into the host nation and it's culture should be one of the most interesting parts of an Olympic Games - do they still hold a Cultural Olympics just prior to the main event ?? Over the years my interest in the games has declined from jingoistic fervor to a benign passing interest - the only event I recall watching at the London Games was the Queen jumping out of a helicoptor...
Dean
Guest
Completely against the spirit of the games. You're the HOST not the home team. The athletes in the Olympic village will have better conditions than 90% of the people in the country they're visiting. What more do they want?
Dean
Guest
Nothing's happening performance wise, so the press have rolled out the excuses truck. It wouldn't be a Greek Olympics without a bit of graft and shoddy workmanship. Just like it wouldn't be a Brazilian Olympics without the poor stealing a few things off the rich every now and then. The Olympics shouldn't be about just glitz and glamour, it should expose the world (including professional and amateur athletes) to how the rest of the world lives. Use sport to spread good vibes and understanding. Rio will be great fun for all involved. A few will be robbed, most will lose but as long as they all have a good time! I'm looking forward to the events. The whole 'Rio is dangerous' thing is hardly news and completely overblown. It's a city with millions of people below the poverty line, of course there's crime.
SP
Guest
Interesting that an english cyclist who has missed her last 3 drug tests is allowed to compete. What a joke. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3718988/Olympic-cyclist-Lizzie-Armitstead-escapes-ban-three-missed-drugs-tests-Medal-favourite-allowed-compete-Rio-winning-minute-court-case.html
josh
Roar Rookie
I'll concede hyperbole, on the word "every". London wasn't bad. I'd be worried most athletes in LA would wind up being shot by the local law enforcement.
AR
Guest
On London, I recall the rather cliched pessimism from the locals prior to kick-off. It certainly is amazing how a mass of people can be instantly swept up in...dare I even say it...Olympic spirit. It was the same in Sydney, but in hyperdrive. For the entire 2 weeks, Sydney laid waste to Disneyland as the happiest place on earth. It was almost sickly sweet. But my god it was fun...and genuine...and so well-run...and *sigh*.... On a serious note, the problem with modern Olympiads is the obscene amount of money that host nations are pouring into hosting it. It was the same for Rio's preparation f the World Cup. As shiny new stadiums were being built far out in the jungles (far far away from any existing local soccer club), the government was hiking up the price of local buses, hoiking state education, stripping health, or other basic infrastructure. You could bet now, particularly after Brazil's disastrous exit from the Cup, that the locals would rather the whole thing never happened. Rio must feel like World Cup 2.0. Sydney reportedly spent about $3 billion in 2000. London about $14B. Russia apparently about $51B on the *Winter* games. Qatar has estimated about $230B on the 2022 WC..! Sustainable..?
Adsa
Guest
Thanks James, I suspect that once competition starts the press corps will change tune and start the real Olympic stories, here's hoping Oz grab a bag full of medals.
pauly
Guest
But but but... what about the sporting capital of the world?
jameswm
Roar Guru
It's funny you say that. London was in fact very good, and I have seen others suggest the Olympics should just rotate between Sydney, London and LA.