'The Olympics are dead': Does anyone want to be a host city anymore?

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Why does Brazil rate a smile and South Korea doesn't?

Feels like a "meh" location for Winter Games.

It's mountainous, snowy and near Seoul. What more could you want?

north korean fireworks?

[Tonitrus]

Why does Brazil rate a smile and South Korea doesn't?

Feels like a "meh" location for Winter Games.

It's mountainous, snowy and near Seoul. What more could you want?

north korean fireworks?

Don't worry, NK will launch those at their own athletes who fail to win medals.

[Duque de Bragança]

Why does Brazil rate a smile and South Korea doesn't?

Feels like a "meh" location for Winter Games.

It's mountainous, snowy and near Seoul. What more could you want?

north korean fireworks?

Don't worry, NK will launch those at their own athletes who fail to win medals.

Did North Korea qualify its football team for the next Summer games in Rio? Portugal managed to. It ends badly for North Korea in general if they meet.

[Monoriu]

Then there's China's political climate, which, if anything, has grown more repressive since 2008. In the past seven years, the Chinese government has banned Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and has restricted speech on the social networks it allows to operate at all. Imagining an Olympics where athletes and spectators are cut off from Facebook is difficult in 2015—and may be even less plausible in 2022. For the second time in 14 years, the IOC has awarded the games to a country with a poor human-rights record.

Pretty sure the visiting athletes will not be affected by China's internet policies.  I've stayed in mainland hotels and service apartments where access to the internet is unrestricted.  If they think the places are frequented mainly by foreign guests, the party will allow access.

[Josquius]

I don't mind euro 2020 and the many nation thing. Though with the talk of a international league for Europe it seems a little redundant.

Beijing Winter Olympics:
But then who cares about the winter Olympics.

[DontSayBanana]

Pretty sure the visiting athletes will not be affected by China's internet policies.  I've stayed in mainland hotels and service apartments where access to the internet is unrestricted.  If they think the places are frequented mainly by foreign guests, the party will allow access.

Unrestricted is not, I think, the term for this case.  I think it's going to be like Sochi where the party goes to great lengths to make sure they have a way to quash unwanted attention.

[Monoriu]

Well, if Beijing didn't bid for the 2022 Winter games, Almaty would win by default.  From a purely functional point of view, I think there is a good chance that Beijing will do a better job for the athletes. 

[celedhring]

Well, if Beijing didn't bid for the 2022 Winter games, Almaty would win by default.  From a purely functional point of view, I think there is a good chance that Beijing will do a better job for the athletes.

We postponed our bid because Beijing bid. So they could have gone to Barcelona, which is also a ridiculous proposition in itself, mind.

[DGuller]

Lviv would've had it in the bag if not for Putin. 

[Monoriu]

Well, if Beijing didn't bid for the 2022 Winter games, Almaty would win by default.  From a purely functional point of view, I think there is a good chance that Beijing will do a better job for the athletes.

We postponed our bid because Beijing bid. So they could have gone to Barcelona, which is also a ridiculous proposition in itself, mind.

I thought Spain needed to be bailed out not long ago?

[alfred russel]

Well, if Beijing didn't bid for the 2022 Winter games, Almaty would win by default.  From a purely functional point of view, I think there is a good chance that Beijing will do a better job for the athletes.

There are two things that are needed for a successful Olympics:
-decent infrastructure & support from the host
-solid venues for top level competitions

Yes Beijing should deliver on the first, and to the extent possible on the second. But from what I understand some of the mountains where the ski/snowboard competitions will be held may not have any snow. The plan is to just use artificial snow, but that is a sad way to hold the top competition in the world.

It is unfortunate that Oslo pulled out.

[DGuller]

If you can have Winter Olympics in Sochi, you can have them everywhere.  Not that you should, mind you.

[Monoriu]

Well, if Beijing didn't bid for the 2022 Winter games, Almaty would win by default.  From a purely functional point of view, I think there is a good chance that Beijing will do a better job for the athletes.

There are two things that are needed for a successful Olympics:
-decent infrastructure & support from the host
-solid venues for top level competitions

Yes Beijing should deliver on the first, and to the extent possible on the second. But from what I understand some of the mountains where the ski/snowboard competitions will be held may not have any snow. The plan is to just use artificial snow, but that is a sad way to hold the top competition in the world.

It is unfortunate that Oslo pulled out.

I obviously know next to nothing about winter sports.  But my guess would be that weather is not 100% predictable.  That means, even on mountains where there is supposed to be natural snow, it may not be entirely suitable for the competition on the day when the olympics are held. 

What I am trying to say is, using artificial snow seems like a safer bet. 

[alfred russel]

If you can have Winter Olympics in Sochi, you can have them everywhere.  Not that you should, mind you.

I think they had the Alpine events in the Caucasus where there are ski resorts etc. I've seen pictures taken in January of the mountains they will be using for the Beijing olympics and there was no snow on them.

I know it will more or less work out with artificial snow, but why do that?

[DGuller]

If you can have Winter Olympics in Sochi, you can have them everywhere.  Not that you should, mind you.

I think they had the Alpine events in the Caucasus where there are ski resorts etc. I've seen pictures taken in January of the mountains they will be using for the Beijing olympics and there was no snow on them.

I know it will more or less work out with artificial snow, but why do that?

Because countries with real alpine climates have democracy to deal with.  And sometimes wars as well.