5 ms·

Part of me really wonders why, considering all of the controversies with the Olympics and IOC over the years, why we haven't seen an alternative multi-category

by thearn4 10y ago

Part of me really wonders why, considering all of the controversies with the Olympics and IOC over the years, why we haven't seen an alternative multi-category world athletic competition gain some support. Though I do understand it would be very, very hard to compete with the marketing of the official Olympics. But if the Rio Olympics end up being as terrible as some people fear, maybe that could be a catalyst for a new competition.

jgrahamc 10y ago
Commonwealth Games: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Games https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Games
kelukelugames 10y ago
The Goodwill games lasted a few decades. They were created during the Cold War. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=goodwill%20games https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&e...
- vmateixeira 10y ago
  Woow.. didn't know about these ones :) Thanks for sharing!
- Someone 10y ago
  I think the better phrase is "they were created when Ted Turner saw an opportunity to get into the market because the USA boycotted the Moscow Olympics".
strictnein 10y ago
I'd be interested in a set of games that had minimal rules governing doping. Let's see what the human body can achieve with science.
- vinchuco 10y ago
  http://www.majorleagueeating.com/contests.php http://www.majorleagueeating.com/contests.php
  - strictnein 10y ago
    Do they allow some sort of doping for Major League Eating competitions? Or are we talking full scale cyber-stomach enhancements?
- themihai 10y ago
  There would be a lot of heart attacks and cancers due the doping abuse. Not to mention the ethics. I'm not sure who would like to sponsor a such environment/event. Maybe the pharmaceutical industry but even for them would become damaging at some point.
- RodgerTheGreat 10y ago
  I'd be curious myself, but the argument against this type of competition is that it creates enormous pressure on competitors to do things that could have serious negative impacts on their long-term health for the sake of winning. Even if participants are adults of sound mind, it seems unethical to create a situation where people are encouraged to risk crippling or killing themselves in pursuit of fame, no?
  - jrockway 10y ago
    > it seems unethical to create a situation where people are encouraged to risk crippling or killing themselves in pursuit of fame, no? But think of the millions you could make! Donald Trump could be the host! Make sports great again!
    - thrownblown 10y ago
      NBA, NFL, MBA, UFC.... all make loot while only paying lip service to doping controls. UFC has only recently brought in WADA, and NBA, NFL and MBA all have strong enough players unions that actually protect the athletes desire to use PEDs. There is some testing in the major US professional sporting leagues, but IMHO it is only there to constrain the guys from going buck wild with the steroids. Most high level athletes in sports that fall under IOC umbrella are enrolled in the biological passport program and have many, many, annoying, out of competition doping controls where they take urine, blood and hair samples. Think of being woken up at 5 am for a blood test while on vacation. They have to supply there exact whereabouts for months in advance and if they can't be found they will suffer a suspension equal to a failed doping control. Vastly different than Roger Clemens or Barry Bonds.
dublinben 10y ago
Most of the sports represented in the Olympics have their own World Championships independent of the IOC. As you've mentioned, they aren't multi-category though, so they don't have the same concentrated appeal.
- dorfsmay 10y ago
  Isn't the appeal created by the media though? Anybody interested in any sport is already watching the world championship for that sport. Journalists keeping track of the number of medals won by each country tells me that the Olympics is all about nationalism and has very little yo do with sports.
  - drzaiusapelord 10y ago
    >Isn't the appeal created by the media though? Not really. I dislike most events but I tune in for those that I like. All the marketing in the world isn't going to make me watch weightlifting, women's wrestling, dressage, synchronized swimming, etc. The Olympics works because its so varied. Single event tournaments don't remotely compare.
    - goldenkey 10y ago
      Its usually the low brow idiots who live life like its a popularity contest who watch the olympics. All their idiot friends are going to talk and ask about it so they have to be prepared to partake in the gossip. I come from a family of scientists. The olympics is never a family event. Patriotism + sports is entertainment for plebians. Plus the olympics is always held in some piss poor country where slave labor is used for construction of the stadium. And after the event the effects of abandonment, pollution, and other collateralized effects devastate the local city's economy.
Paul-ish 10y ago
Could a competitor legally use the word "Olympics"? Could such an old concept be trademarked?

by thearn4 10y ago

jgrahamc 10y ago

Commonwealth Games: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Games https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Games

kelukelugames 10y ago

The Goodwill games lasted a few decades. They were created during the Cold War. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=goodwill%20games https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&e...

vmateixeira 10y ago
Woow.. didn't know about these ones :) Thanks for sharing!
Someone 10y ago
I think the better phrase is "they were created when Ted Turner saw an opportunity to get into the market because the USA boycotted the Moscow Olympics".

strictnein 10y ago

I'd be interested in a set of games that had minimal rules governing doping. Let's see what the human body can achieve with science.

vinchuco 10y ago
http://www.majorleagueeating.com/contests.php http://www.majorleagueeating.com/contests.php
- strictnein 10y ago
  Do they allow some sort of doping for Major League Eating competitions? Or are we talking full scale cyber-stomach enhancements?
themihai 10y ago
There would be a lot of heart attacks and cancers due the doping abuse. Not to mention the ethics. I'm not sure who would like to sponsor a such environment/event. Maybe the pharmaceutical industry but even for them would become damaging at some point.
RodgerTheGreat 10y ago
I'd be curious myself, but the argument against this type of competition is that it creates enormous pressure on competitors to do things that could have serious negative impacts on their long-term health for the sake of winning. Even if participants are adults of sound mind, it seems unethical to create a situation where people are encouraged to risk crippling or killing themselves in pursuit of fame, no?
- jrockway 10y ago
  > it seems unethical to create a situation where people are encouraged to risk crippling or killing themselves in pursuit of fame, no? But think of the millions you could make! Donald Trump could be the host! Make sports great again!
  - thrownblown 10y ago
    NBA, NFL, MBA, UFC.... all make loot while only paying lip service to doping controls. UFC has only recently brought in WADA, and NBA, NFL and MBA all have strong enough players unions that actually protect the athletes desire to use PEDs. There is some testing in the major US professional sporting leagues, but IMHO it is only there to constrain the guys from going buck wild with the steroids. Most high level athletes in sports that fall under IOC umbrella are enrolled in the biological passport program and have many, many, annoying, out of competition doping controls where they take urine, blood and hair samples. Think of being woken up at 5 am for a blood test while on vacation. They have to supply there exact whereabouts for months in advance and if they can't be found they will suffer a suspension equal to a failed doping control. Vastly different than Roger Clemens or Barry Bonds.

dublinben 10y ago

Most of the sports represented in the Olympics have their own World Championships independent of the IOC. As you've mentioned, they aren't multi-category though, so they don't have the same concentrated appeal.

dorfsmay 10y ago
Isn't the appeal created by the media though? Anybody interested in any sport is already watching the world championship for that sport. Journalists keeping track of the number of medals won by each country tells me that the Olympics is all about nationalism and has very little yo do with sports.
- drzaiusapelord 10y ago
  >Isn't the appeal created by the media though? Not really. I dislike most events but I tune in for those that I like. All the marketing in the world isn't going to make me watch weightlifting, women's wrestling, dressage, synchronized swimming, etc. The Olympics works because its so varied. Single event tournaments don't remotely compare.
  - goldenkey 10y ago
    Its usually the low brow idiots who live life like its a popularity contest who watch the olympics. All their idiot friends are going to talk and ask about it so they have to be prepared to partake in the gossip. I come from a family of scientists. The olympics is never a family event. Patriotism + sports is entertainment for plebians. Plus the olympics is always held in some piss poor country where slave labor is used for construction of the stadium. And after the event the effects of abandonment, pollution, and other collateralized effects devastate the local city's economy.

Paul-ish 10y ago

Could a competitor legally use the word "Olympics"? Could such an old concept be trademarked?