Athens as the permanent home of the Olympics?

[Freefall11111]

Apologies for the source, nobody else seems to be reporting on this. That said, you can watch the video linked in the article to confirm yourself.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/210061/arti ... ympic-host

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde has backed the idea of returning the Olympic Games to a permanent home in Greece.

Asked during a forum at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado earlier this week, the IMF chief said: “I believe it is a good idea that is out of the box.”

“If this could generate demand, something the economy needs, that would be excellent,” Lagarde said.

Should the Olympics continue being handed over to different countries every two years? Or is it finally time for it to settle down where it all began? On the one hand, I'm sure many people would miss the variety that comes with changing locales, but is it really worth the cost to construct all the infrastructure needed to host the Olympics? I don't know.

[Mike the Progressive]

Eh, not sure it's best to keep it in one place.

[Mad hatters in jeans]

Eh, not sure it's best to keep it in one place.

Doesn't make sense to move it around either. Seems stupid that a different country has to build a ton of buildings that go unused once the games are finished.

[Mike the Progressive]

Eh, not sure it's best to keep it in one place.

Doesn't make sense to move it around either. Seems stupid that a different country has to build a ton of buildings that go unused once the games are finished.

Do they normally go unused? And a country doesn't have to do jack. They bid for it.

[Pope Joan]

I do not believe Greece has sufficient security.
That has to be a major concern these days/

[Freefall11111]

I do not believe Greece has sufficient security.
That has to be a major concern these days/

Security from what? Greece isn't some war zone.

[Nations United for Conquest]

I do not believe Greece has sufficient security.
That has to be a major concern these days/

Security from what? Greece isn't some war zone.

Yeah but it's not the most stable place in the world these days

[Mike the Progressive]

I do not believe Greece has sufficient security.
That has to be a major concern these days/

Security from what? Greece isn't some war zone.

From what? I'll tell you what!

[Koninkrijk Zeeland]

I think Greece can not afford it , the last olympic games are one of reasons of the budget problems.

[Freefall11111]

Security from what? Greece isn't some war zone.

Yeah but it's not the most stable place in the world these days

By what measure?

[Shuque]

I kind of like the idea of bringing it all around the world. It gives a sense of hippy-togetherness and all that. It's kind of nice. But if this were to happen, I could learn to put up with it and accept the idea. Just watched Vox's video on Rio's 'hiding' of Marẽ, and it seems pretty bad what they're doing, because they can't afford to rennovate the neglected housing area behind the wall near the airport. I'll link the video so you know what I'm talking about. A city like that isn't an ideal place to host the olympics. Then again, neither is Athens, which is in a poor state as it is, it could do with a break from spending money.

The video.

[Pope Joan]

I do not believe Greece has sufficient security.
That has to be a major concern these days/

Security from what? Greece isn't some war zone.

Security from terrorists, of course.

CNN recently described Greece as the "terror hub of Europe".

"Greece has become an unwitting crossroads -- both for jihadists trying to reach Iraq and Syria from Europe, and for fighters returning home from the Middle East.



Greece's long land and maritime boundaries, its proximity to Turkey, the explosion of illegal migration from Syria and the country's dire financial situation make it an inviting hub for jihadist groups, according to multiple counterterrorism sources.

One source close to the Greek intelligence services told CNN there may be some 200 people in the country with links to jihadist groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or the al Nusra Front -- the two groups that most Europeans join."

http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/25/europe/gr ... orism-hub/

[Freefall11111]

Security from what? Greece isn't some war zone.

Security from terrorists, of course.

CNN recently described Greece as the "terror hub of Europe".

"Greece has become an unwitting crossroads -- both for jihadists trying to reach Iraq and Syria from Europe, and for fighters returning home from the Middle East.



Greece's long land and maritime boundaries, its proximity to Turkey, the explosion of illegal migration from Syria and the country's dire financial situation make it an inviting hub for jihadist groups, according to multiple counterterrorism sources.

One source close to the Greek intelligence services told CNN there may be some 200 people in the country with links to jihadist groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or the al Nusra Front -- the two groups that most Europeans join."

http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/25/europe/gr ... orism-hub/

CNN is a questionable source, doubly so in this instance given that they don't provide any citations.

[MERIZoC]

Hmmmm. While the regular olympics fails to bring economic benefit despite yelling to the contrary, given that the host must spend so much setting up and all that, perhaps a permanent fixture could actually be quite good for Greece's economy. I'm open to this.

[Mike the Progressive]

Hmmmm. While the regular olympics fails to bring economic benefit despite yelling to the contrary, given that the host must spend so much setting up and all that, perhaps a permanent fixture could actually be quite good for Greece's economy. I'm open to this.

Yes, because vast public spending has benefited Greece so much.

[Freefall11111]

Hmmmm. While the regular olympics fails to bring economic benefit despite yelling to the contrary, given that the host must spend so much setting up and all that, perhaps a permanent fixture could actually be quite good for Greece's economy. I'm open to this.

Yes, because vast public spending has benefited Greece so much.

All public spending is not equal.

[Shuque]

I'm open to it, I guess, like Merizoc said, it could fix their economy. On the other hand, having to host it would mean improving airports and other services open to tourists and citizens alike, which would probably cause an insane amount of instability during the first run. Still open, though.

[Mad hatters in jeans]

Doesn't make sense to move it around either. Seems stupid that a different country has to build a ton of buildings that go unused once the games are finished.

Do they normally go unused? And a country doesn't have to do jack. They bid for it.

The buildings don't always go unused but a large majority do and yeah the country does have to pay for them to an extent.

A quick google search brings loads of articles about of buildings in disrepair. And lets not forget the upkeep costs of those stadiums if you do decide to keep using them can be quite high.

Such a waste.

While Greece might not be the best country for a permanent venue the idea of a fixed location is a good idea.

[Crockerland]

This would help Greece's economy a lot, so yeah I think it should be in Athens every time, at least for a while.

[MERIZoC]

Hmmmm. While the regular olympics fails to bring economic benefit despite yelling to the contrary, given that the host must spend so much setting up and all that, perhaps a permanent fixture could actually be quite good for Greece's economy. I'm open to this.

Yes, because vast public spending has benefited Greece so much.

Austerity is a massive fucking failure so I don't know what you think you're talking about.

[Socialist Nordia]

Eh, not sure it's best to keep it in one place.

Doesn't make sense to move it around either. Seems stupid that a different country has to build a ton of buildings that go unused once the games are finished.

No country has to do anything. They voluntarily bid, asking to host the olympics. It's not like it's forced upon them. They just need to do a better job at choosing locations. I thought Sochi was bad, but Rio has the potential to be much worse.

[Mad hatters in jeans]

Doesn't make sense to move it around either. Seems stupid that a different country has to build a ton of buildings that go unused once the games are finished.

No country has to do anything. They voluntarily bid, asking to host the olympics. It's not like it's forced upon them. They just need to do a better job at choosing locations. I thought Sochi was bad, but Rio has the potential to be much worse.

This is the thing though, as long as people in charge make a decision on who should host the next games from their list they can be bribed and you get countries that just don't have the fiscal capacity, responsible workers or respect for basic human rights that can host em.

A permanent site for them would completely cut out this bullshit with bribes and constant worries about security of the new area chosen.

[The West Maghrebi Jamahiriya]

Yes, because vast public spending has benefited Greece so much.

Austerity is a massive fucking failure so I don't know what you think you're talking about.

The effects are much worse when you use your money like Greece.

[Socialist Nordia]

No country has to do anything. They voluntarily bid, asking to host the olympics. It's not like it's forced upon them. They just need to do a better job at choosing locations. I thought Sochi was bad, but Rio has the potential to be much worse.

This is the thing though, as long as people in charge make a decision on who should host the next games from their list they can be bribed and you get countries that just don't have the fiscal capacity, responsible workers or respect for basic human rights that can host em.

A permanent site for them would completely cut out this bullshit with bribes and constant worries about security of the new area chosen.

Greece has some big problems right now. Could they afford to host it every time? Also, where would the Winter Olympics be held?

[Zeon Refounded]

Let us not forget all the millions of people who would no longer be able to see the games live. I doubt most people have the time or money to travel all the way to another country, instead of being able to wait until it is in their country. But that is just my two cents.