2012 Olympics

[MrPresident]

Who do you think should host the 2012 Summer Olympics? And why? The field of candidates is currently, New York, London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Havana, Istanbul and Leipzig.

Edit: Should be in sports forum. My bad.

 

[naervod]

I think Paris is the best place to host them. Nice city and I don't think the country has hosted a Summer Olympics before.

 

[Cimbri]

New York should have a go at it. Or perhaps Paris or Leipzig.

 

[stormbind]

London should host it so that we get more trade. That's my only reason and you know it's right!

However, I would not go to see it. I might go if it were hosted in Rome

There's a risk that organisers in Paris would mess it up for internationals by refusing to speak English. They are very pro-Francais, which I fully understand (really!), but it's not very nice for foreignors who all speak English

 

[Stuck_as_a_Mac]

NYC. Why, you ask? Because I'll be 24 and able to enjoy the nightlife of the Olypics and afford tickets for myself
(Yea, and it will be good for the city too )

 

[stormbind]

I have never seen anything hosted by NYC. I'm also willing to try some things once

New York it is, but you have to be good losers. Oki?

 

[cgannon64]

New York all the way! That will be a huge economic boost; especially because it seems that our current recession in the city is here to stay...

 

[Hitro]

I'm in favour of Havanna, Leipzig or Istanbul.

 

[amadeus]

Why Havana? I don't just mean this to you, Hitro, but to anyone.

 

[cgannon64]

Originally posted by rmsharpe
Why Havana? I don't just mean this to you, Hitro, but to anyone.

Why not Havana? I've heard its a beautiful city. Anyway, hosting the Olympics in a communist country (and think Cuba-type communism, not North Korea-type communism) could never be as bad as Hitler announcing the opening games...

 

[Hitro]

Why not? Why any of the other cities?

In fact I think there is a valid argument against some of them, and that is that they already hosted the Olympics. But I don't see many differences between the others.

 

[Pangur Bán]

It has to be either Istanbul or New York. I've voted Istanbul. It's about time that the Turks got an international sporting tournement; it'd also be fitting that one of histories biggest and most important cities regains the opportunity to be the centre of world attention. New York's my second because of the city is quite clearly the greatest modern city (and probably sep 11 as well.)

If Madrid gets it I'll be sick. Barcelona got it in 1992. That would mean that the nation's record since would be:

Spain, USA, Australia, Greece, China, Spain. Spain isn't that important!

 

[amadeus]

Originally posted by cgannon64


Why not Havana? I've heard its a beautiful city. Anyway, hosting the Olympics in a communist country (and think Cuba-type communism, not North Korea-type communism) could never be as bad as Hitler announcing the opening games...

Well, Castro's opening speech would probably be so long that the 2016 games would start before the 2012 ones.

And this "Cuba-type communism" you speak of is totalitarianism one way or the other. Remember the dissidents jailed and three of them being swiftly executed?

If you think I'm a hypocrite because I did not speak out against China hosting the games is that Cuba has not stepped by an inch of political or civil reforms, whereas China has gone a mile, but still has a million more miles left to go.

 

[amadeus]

Originally posted by calgacus
It has to be either Istanbul or New York. I've voted Istanbul. It's about time that the Turks got an international sporting tournement; it'd also be fitting that one of histories biggest and most important cities regains the opportunity to be the centre of world attention. New York's my second because of the city is quite clearly the greatest modern city (and probably sep 11 as well.)

Agreed 100%.

 

[Hitro]

Originally posted by calgacus
If Madrid gets it I'll be sick. Barcelona got it in 1992. That would mean that the nation's record since would be:

Spain, USA, Australia, Greece, China, Spain. Spain isn't that important!

Didn't you mean to say Spain, USA, Australia, Greece, China, United Federation of Europe?

Actually USA, Australia, Greece, China, again USA is for me an argument against New York, that's why Istanbul, Leipzig and Havanna are left for me.

 

[cgannon64]

Originally posted by rmsharpe


Well, Castro's opening speech would probably be so long that the 2016 games would start before the 2012 ones.

Good point. How long was his inauguration speech? 8 hours?

And this "Cuba-type communism" you speak of is totalitarianism one way or the other. Remember the dissidents jailed and three of them being swiftly executed?

All I'm saying is that Cuba is one of the most benign of the remaining communist countries. Not that Cuba's hands are clean.

 

[amadeus]

Actually, Havana might not be such a bad idea. I don't think old Fidel's got 9 years left in him.

 

[Zarn]

I wouldn't want it in Havanna, because Castro is still there. I would like the Olympics to be there, once he goes away (most likely from death). For 2012, It should be New York or Istanbul. I voted NY in poll.

 

[tonberry]

Originally posted by rmsharpe

If you think I'm a hypocrite because I did not speak out against China hosting the games is that Cuba has not stepped by an inch of political or civil reforms, whereas China has gone a mile, but still has a million more miles left to go.

Well, the organization of the OG was one of the reasons why China has began those reforms. They lost the one in 2000 because of Tiannamen incident. So if 2012 olympics games can have the same effect on Cuba, I'm all for it.

 

[Pangur Bán]

Originally posted by Hitro


Actually USA, Australia, Greece, China, again USA is for me an argument against New York, that's why Istanbul, Leipzig and Havanna are left for me.

Yeah, but the USA has nearly 300 million people and scores of gigantic cities. Spain is a 1/7th of Americas size and has only two or three cities that would merit the Olympic Games.

So the argument doesn't work as strongly against New York. But I take your point. Istanbul is my choice anyway