4 ms·

It is a legitimate point that there are lots of controversial commercial issues at the Olympics (e.g. petitmiam's fish and chips comment), but that should not d

by squidi 14y ago

It is a legitimate point that there are lots of controversial commercial issues at the Olympics (e.g. petitmiam's fish and chips comment), but that should not detract from admiring the motivation and efforts of the elite athletes competing. They train their wholes live and push themselves through mental and physical barriers.

franze 14y ago
>They train their wholes live and push themselves through mental and physical barriers. ... only to participate in a "big brother meets capitalism" like event. i have respect for the athletes, but everyone who participate in the olympics supports the near criminal IOC.
- squidi 14y ago
  Should a top diplomat not work for a government because they are corrupt too? Or a talented young footballer in the favelas of Sao Paulo not dream of winning the World Cup and earning a good wage because FIFA is corrupt also?[1] [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA#Allegations_of_corruption_and_legislative_interference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA#Allegations_of_corruption_...
- rprasad 14y ago
  Using that logic, no hacker should ever work with Apple, Google, Microsoft, IBM, Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox, Airbnb, Craiglist... Athletes don't care about the management of the IOC. They compete in the Olympics to compete against the best. They aren't going to give up their dream of challenging the luminaries in their sport just because a few IOC members take a few bribes, any more than you would stop working with Apple b/c their contract labor policies drive a handful of workers to suicide.
Tichy 14y ago
Meanwhile, other people study and work their whole lives trying to cure cancer or end poverty. I am sorry if I can not really get into the admiration thing. Doing sports seems to be a very self-centered, egoistical thing. The only thing I can accept is that it motivates people to push harder and explore boundaries of human achievement. Also, some medical knowledge might also actually be gained (like how to train effectively - this could matter a lot in a world of office workers with little time for exercise). But for those effects the expense seems a bit high. Also in the light of those benefits I think drugs (doping) should be legalized for professional sports. Those people ruin their bodies anyway, letting them experiment with drugs can only lead to more medical knowledge.
- squidi 14y ago
  >Meanwhile, other people study and work their whole lives trying to cure cancer or end poverty. And lots of people spend their time driving a delivery van or installing windows, but we don't belittle that. Bringing entertainment or inspiring seems a good way to spend a life to me. >Doing sports seems to be a very self-centered, egoistical thing. If you have ever met top class scientists and acadmeics, I think you will see, unfortunately, that some of them can be equally self-centred and egotistical too. I'm sure the same could be said about execs of pharma companies. So, I guess I wonder if there are egotistical people or egotistical activities? >The only thing I can accept is that it motivates people to push harder and explore boundaries of human achievement. + the benefits of encouraging people to take up recreational sport - for exercise [more than an @officeworkout though ;-) ]and the friends it leads to. Also for some people it leads to a nice career and gives them opportunities to see the world.
  - Tichy 14y ago
    Driving delivery vans or installing windows is actively helping other people, why would I belittle that. I don't doubt that a lot of "scientists" don't do much of use - all I say is that professional athletes in my opinion definitely don't do anything of use, whereas at least some scientist certainly do. And if somebody cures cancer, let them be selfish as much as they want, they still gave something to society. Nobody asks to admire pharma execs, but the notion that professional athletes should be admired exists. As for inspiring people to take up a recreational sport: really? Is that what the Olympics do? It seems very unlikely to me, because the athletes are so obviously beyond the things normal humans can achieve. And if that is the goal, it could probably be had cheaper with some advertisements. Think not only the costs for all the branding, licensing and whatnot, but also the hours people waste in front of the TV.
    - squidi 14y ago
      We hope it will have that effect in London [1]. The plans for the legacy are beyond what some advertisements could achieve [2]. [1] http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/news/newsrelease.asp?newsPk=1331 http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/news/newsrelease.asp?newsPk=1331 [2] http://www.londonlegacy.co.uk/ http://www.londonlegacy.co.uk/

by squidi 14y ago

franze 14y ago

>They train their wholes live and push themselves through mental and physical barriers. ... only to participate in a "big brother meets capitalism" like event. i have respect for the athletes, but everyone who participate in the olympics supports the near criminal IOC.

squidi 14y ago
Should a top diplomat not work for a government because they are corrupt too? Or a talented young footballer in the favelas of Sao Paulo not dream of winning the World Cup and earning a good wage because FIFA is corrupt also?[1] [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA#Allegations_of_corruption_and_legislative_interference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA#Allegations_of_corruption_...
rprasad 14y ago
Using that logic, no hacker should ever work with Apple, Google, Microsoft, IBM, Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox, Airbnb, Craiglist... Athletes don't care about the management of the IOC. They compete in the Olympics to compete against the best. They aren't going to give up their dream of challenging the luminaries in their sport just because a few IOC members take a few bribes, any more than you would stop working with Apple b/c their contract labor policies drive a handful of workers to suicide.

Tichy 14y ago

Meanwhile, other people study and work their whole lives trying to cure cancer or end poverty. I am sorry if I can not really get into the admiration thing. Doing sports seems to be a very self-centered, egoistical thing. The only thing I can accept is that it motivates people to push harder and explore boundaries of human achievement. Also, some medical knowledge might also actually be gained (like how to train effectively - this could matter a lot in a world of office workers with little time for exercise). But for those effects the expense seems a bit high. Also in the light of those benefits I think drugs (doping) should be legalized for professional sports. Those people ruin their bodies anyway, letting them experiment with drugs can only lead to more medical knowledge.

squidi 14y ago
>Meanwhile, other people study and work their whole lives trying to cure cancer or end poverty. And lots of people spend their time driving a delivery van or installing windows, but we don't belittle that. Bringing entertainment or inspiring seems a good way to spend a life to me. >Doing sports seems to be a very self-centered, egoistical thing. If you have ever met top class scientists and acadmeics, I think you will see, unfortunately, that some of them can be equally self-centred and egotistical too. I'm sure the same could be said about execs of pharma companies. So, I guess I wonder if there are egotistical people or egotistical activities? >The only thing I can accept is that it motivates people to push harder and explore boundaries of human achievement. + the benefits of encouraging people to take up recreational sport - for exercise [more than an @officeworkout though ;-) ]and the friends it leads to. Also for some people it leads to a nice career and gives them opportunities to see the world.
- Tichy 14y ago
  Driving delivery vans or installing windows is actively helping other people, why would I belittle that. I don't doubt that a lot of "scientists" don't do much of use - all I say is that professional athletes in my opinion definitely don't do anything of use, whereas at least some scientist certainly do. And if somebody cures cancer, let them be selfish as much as they want, they still gave something to society. Nobody asks to admire pharma execs, but the notion that professional athletes should be admired exists. As for inspiring people to take up a recreational sport: really? Is that what the Olympics do? It seems very unlikely to me, because the athletes are so obviously beyond the things normal humans can achieve. And if that is the goal, it could probably be had cheaper with some advertisements. Think not only the costs for all the branding, licensing and whatnot, but also the hours people waste in front of the TV.
  - squidi 14y ago
    We hope it will have that effect in London [1]. The plans for the legacy are beyond what some advertisements could achieve [2]. [1] http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/news/newsrelease.asp?newsPk=1331 http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/news/newsrelease.asp?newsPk=1331 [2] http://www.londonlegacy.co.uk/ http://www.londonlegacy.co.uk/