Rio Olympics Megathread

[Trumpostan]

Not to mention shifting money away from the poor, education and healthcare to fund what is essentially a party for the rich, for western athletes and tourists. Same thing happened with the latest two soccer world cups. I think it is morally reprehensible. And then there's the massive "security" measures aimed at keeping those poor out of sight. We wouldn't want to devalue sponsor brands by associating them with the poor dregs of society, would we?

“Western athletes”?

That's generally where the commercial interest lies, yes. A few exceptions don't make it less true.

[Commerce Heights]

“Western athletes”?

That's generally where the commercial interest lies, yes. A few exceptions don't make it less true.

I’m not sure what you’re trying to say. There are thousands of non-Western athletes at the Olympic Games.

[New Republika Srpska]

Will be rootin' for Serbia

o/ o/ o/ o/ o/ what a suprise

[Trumpostan]

That's generally where the commercial interest lies, yes. A few exceptions don't make it less true.

I’m not sure what you’re trying to say. There are thousands of non-Western athletes at the Olympic Games.

The words "commercial interest" should be self explanatory. I will bet the average American athlete has quite a bit more income/sponsorship than the average athlete from central Asia or central Africa.

[Gryphonian Alliance]

When it comes to the Australians it seems they complained to the Brazilians on the olympic town not being finished. So the Brazilians answered if they wanted them to bring in Kangaroos so that they could feel at home.

Wow... It's kind of odd, but also funny that they said that. Because some of the athletes might not have ever gone out of their city before, and had never even actually seen a kangaroo.

[Commerce Heights]

I’m not sure what you’re trying to say. There are thousands of non-Western athletes at the Olympic Games.

The words "commercial interest" should be self explanatory. I will bet the average American athlete has quite a bit more income/sponsorship than the average athlete from central Asia or central Africa.

You said that the Olympic Games are “essentially a party…for western athletes”. The inclusion of athletes in the “party” isn’t based on “commercial interest”.

And more broadly, I can’t see what your point is. Is their ability to attract sponsorship supposed to be a bad thing? Would you prefer that they “shift more money away from the poor, education and healthcare” instead?

[Wray]

Being a rich, white, western imperialist, I love the Olympics - a festival of sport like no other. Obviously rooting for Britain but in reality I'll support anyone making for exciting sport.

Plus it gives me a legitimate excuse to watch TV for two weeks straight.

[Great Zavi]

I just want to take a moment to put a spotlight on how ugly the outfits were that were being worn by the Australians during the opening ceremony.

[Australian rePublic]

Wow everyone in this thread is extrwmely ignorant about the economic benefits of tourism. EXTREMELY IGNORANT

[Kannap]

Watched the Opening Ceremony until about half an hour to the end because I fell asleep. Was thoroughly disappointed.

[Britonisea]

Watched the Opening Ceremony until about half an hour to the end because I fell asleep. Was thoroughly disappointed.

I get you. Maybe because we aren't from Rio (I assume you're not), we expected a bit more...carnival etc, it didn't come until the end.

[Kannap]

Watched the Opening Ceremony until about half an hour to the end because I fell asleep. Was thoroughly disappointed.

I get you. Maybe because we aren't from Rio (I assume you're not), we expected a bit more...carnival etc, it didn't come until the end.

London 2012 Opening Ceremony is still the best Opening Ceremony in my book.

[Britonisea]

I get you. Maybe because we aren't from Rio (I assume you're not), we expected a bit more...carnival etc, it didn't come until the end.

London 2012 Opening Ceremony is still the best Opening Ceremony in my book.

Thanks :-)

It was. I think Rio was a mix of London's and Beijing's divided by 12.

[Eol Sha]

The first gold medal went to an American by the name of Virginia Thrasher in the Air Rifle competition.

[Outer Sparta]

London 2012 Opening Ceremony is still the best Opening Ceremony in my book.

Thanks :-)

It was. I think Rio was a mix of London's and Beijing's divided by 12.

Beijing and London were the best, and Sochi's winter Olympics were good, too.

[Outer Sparta]

UPDATE! Medal standings:
1. USA: 1g, 0s, 0b - 3 points
1. China: 0g, 1s, 1b - 3 points

[Corrian]

Not a sports fan and not attached strongly to any country, so I root for whoever will break world records. Gotta keep pushing humanity's limits.

This is pretty much me. I don't even really root for my own country. Seriously, I really don't. I just like to see world records broken and countries getting their first medals/gold medals ever. That's much more exciting to me than USA getting 4323232 medals again.

[Britonisea]

UPDATE! Medal standings:
1. USA: 1g, 0s, 0b - 3 points
1. China: 0g, 1s, 1b - 3 points

That's sad news.

[Corrian]

Beijing's opening ceremony was amazing. I remember really liking it.

I fell asleep last night before the opening ceremony's even started, so I never saw this one.

Honestly I haven't watched an opening ceremony since Vancouver 2010. That one was 3 hours from me. Was crazy up there because they were widening roads and everything for the traffic going there.

Wow everyone in this thread is extrwmely ignorant about the economic benefits of tourism. EXTREMELY IGNORANT

Except as many people pointed out, usually they LOSE money, not gain any.

[Outer Sparta]

UPDATE! Medal standings:
1. USA: 1g, 0s, 0b - 3 points
1. China: 0g, 1s, 1b - 3 points

That's sad news.

How?

[Risottia]

I’m not sure what you’re trying to say. There are thousands of non-Western athletes at the Olympic Games.

The words "commercial interest" should be self explanatory. I will bet the average American athlete has quite a bit more income/sponsorship than the average athlete from central Asia or central Africa.

I wouldn't be so sure that the average American athlete attracts more sponsorship than the average athlete from Japan, China, Taiwan, Indonesia or Dubai - especially of we take PPP into account.

[Qothia]

Will probably just watch it sometime when I'm bored. I'll be on Sweden's side because of nationality reasons...

That's sad news.

How?

American, wants the USA to be at the top. That is my guess at least.

[Eclixia]

The first gold medal went to an American by the name of Virginia Thrasher in the Air Rifle competition.

While the Serbian double rowing boat capsized.

[Frenline Delpha]

The first gold medal went to an American by the name of Virginia Thrasher in the Air Rifle competition.

While the Serbian double rowing boat capsized.

It's in the poison water, wasn't it?

[Britonisea]

Will probably just watch it sometime when I'm bored. I'll be on Sweden's side because of nationality reasons...

How?

American, wants the USA to be at the top. That is my guess at least.

Ha lol, I'm not American.