The Olympic Games

[Raybosailor]

There's a perfectly good, if now dilapidated suite of facilities in the country where the whole thing kicked off. Goodness knows their economy could do with a four-yearly boost....

Absolutely agree.

The costs could be apportioned out by the size of the squad a country chooses to send and Greece get a free entry.

Brilliant idea!

I think the IOC should put a ceiling on what a host city should spend, that way the less well off countries like Greece would be under less financial pressure to host the games without embarrassment to the country. Rio spent 12 times less than London and the opening ceremony was still quite entertaining, its about the competition not the razzmatazz after all.
If the IOC gave the games to cities that need regeneration instead of those that put in the biggest bid the facilities created and accommodation built so that it could be passed on to the community after the games it would not be so much of a strain on the host country.
Just think of a city like Birmingham hosting the Olympics, good railway links,a variety of airports close by that could do with a bit of improvement and it is the hub of the motorway system, there are quite a few areas around Birmingham that would benefit a new Olympic village being built that would provide housing for locals after the event.

[Ray Scully]

There's a perfectly good, if now dilapidated suite of facilities in the country where the whole thing kicked off. Goodness knows their economy could do with a four-yearly boost....

Absolutely agree.

The costs could be apportioned out by the size of the squad a country chooses to send and Greece get a free entry.

Brilliant idea!

I think the IOC should put a ceiling on what a host city should spend, that way the less well off countries like Greece would be under less financial pressure to host the games without embarrassment to the country. Rio spent 12 times less than London and the opening ceremony was still quite entertaining, its about the competition not the razzmatazz after all.
If the IOC gave the games to cities that need regeneration instead of those that put in the biggest bid the facilities created and accommodation built so that it could be passed on to the community after the games it would not be so much of a strain on the host country.
Just think of a city like Birmingham hosting the Olympics, good railway links,a variety of airports close by that could do with a bit of improvement and it is the hub of the motorway system, there are quite a few areas around Birmingham that would benefit a new Olympic village being built that would provide housing for locals after the event.

A combined bid by Liverpool and Manchester would be a dream bid given the proximity of the cities, the infrastructure already in place and sport mad locals

[david63]

A combined bid by Liverpool and Manchester would be a dream bid given the proximity of the cities, the infrastructure already in place and sport mad locals

The only problem there is that no UK city will get the Olympics in our lifetime

[Raybosailor]

Absolutely agree.

The costs could be apportioned out by the size of the squad a country chooses to send and Greece get a free entry.

Brilliant idea!

I think the IOC should put a ceiling on what a host city should spend, that way the less well off countries like Greece would be under less financial pressure to host the games without embarrassment to the country. Rio spent 12 times less than London and the opening ceremony was still quite entertaining, its about the competition not the razzmatazz after all.
If the IOC gave the games to cities that need regeneration instead of those that put in the biggest bid the facilities created and accommodation built so that it could be passed on to the community after the games it would not be so much of a strain on the host country.
Just think of a city like Birmingham hosting the Olympics, good railway links,a variety of airports close by that could do with a bit of improvement and it is the hub of the motorway system, there are quite a few areas around Birmingham that would benefit a new Olympic village being built that would provide housing for locals after the event.

A combined bid by Liverpool and Manchester would be a dream bid given the proximity of the cities, the infrastructure already in place and sport mad locals

Can't agree more Ray, a highly populated area that would benefit from the regeneration, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Cardiff are well worthy of an Olympic event and if you look around the world there are other large cities that get overlooked.

[oldbluefox]

I was disappointed that the national stadium was not built in Birmingham with good rail links, an airport and access by motorway. Instead it was resited in Wembley which, accessibility-wise is a nightmare and a long trek from many parts of the country.
It would also have eased congestion in London when there were internationals and major events on.

[Frank Manning]

Yes Birmingham would have been fairer to everyone.

I cant get enthusiastic about this Olympics. I am too into the cricket.

[Manoverboard]

Cricket you say ... by Jiminy ?

[oldbluefox]

Does anybody else think the outfits for the GB team look bl***y awful? I have just been watching the ladies who won the team pursuit receiving their gold medals in something akin to a painting shirt. They looked cheap and tacky as do many of the team outfits. Not impressed.

[Whynd1]

I quite agree, they were having to to pull the jackets down. Awful.

[Happydays]

I agree, I don't like the GB outfits either. Was it Stella McCartney that designed them again? I thought the last Olympic out fits were awful as well and these are not an improvement!

[RB1961]

I think the track suits are a poor fit and the GB emblem to big. The design on the kit they compete in looks good.

Enjoying the cycling...love seeing world records...makes you proud. Also the emotion when there is an unexpected medal like the silver in the trampoline...great stuff.

RB

[Kendhni]

Time to take a few £10's of millions out of football and start investing in other sports. The Euros were a national embarrassment, our Olympians look like they will make the country proud again - so put the money where it is deserved.

[david63]

Couldn't care less what the outfits are like - it's the medals that I like

[oldbluefox]

Time to take a few £10's of millions out of football and start investing in other sports. The Euros were a national embarrassment, our Olympians look like they will make the country proud again - so put the money where it is deserved.

I believe a lot of money is being invested via the National Lottery. What I would like to see is more investment locally in sport into provincial towns as opposed o major cities.
And I include football monies in that as well.

[oldbluefox]

Couldn't care less what the outfits are like - it's the medals that I like

I see other countries stepping onto the winners' rostrum looking smart and modern, then we step up looking as though we have just taken time out from slapping a bit of emulsion on the kitchen ceiling. Time for Stella McCartney to go.
If I had just spent years of early mornings, long days travelling , blood, sweat and tears to reach the top and then have to put on some of that gear for my special moment I wouldn't be impressed. What's with those silly red cuffs?

[Kendhni]

Time to take a few £10's of millions out of football and start investing in other sports. The Euros were a national embarrassment, our Olympians look like they will make the country proud again - so put the money where it is deserved.

I believe a lot of money is being invested via the National Lottery. What I would like to see is more investment locally in sport into provincial towns as opposed o major cities.
And I include football monies in that as well.

Agree totally, far too much money and airtime is given to a 'select few' sports and t is too centralised - there is life outside of the city

[oldbluefox]

Away from the cities we are still in the dark ages with our shortage of sports facilities. Whilst countries such as Germany have invested in sport (ice rinks, all weather floodlit pitches, state of the art swimming pools etc) we still have local teams playing on mud heaps and no changing facilities - little changed from 100 years ago. No wonder we have an obesity problem.

[Manoverboard]

Going slightly Off Topic for a moment may I say how much I, indeed we, are enjoying these Olympics and especially so the cycle track circuit racing / sprints.

[oldbluefox]

There has been some excellent competition. The cycling has been captivating, as were the gymnastics and the rowing. But one of the highlights for me was the medal presentation to the Fijian rugby sevens team. Not only was this team outstanding in their victory over GB but they demonstrated outstanding respect and humility when receiving their medals (unlike Wiggins who was totally disrespectful for his own amusement).
Just my opinion.

[qbman1]

Well, we really missed Rory Tw*tIlroy, didn't we ?!

[qbman1]

Joking aside, it is a stunning all-round performance from the British team. Remember, we won just one gold medal in the whole of the Atlanta Games only 20 years ago. Apart from the big name sports like golf and tennis, I think a lot of the improvement in other areas can be attributed to the influx of lottery-backed funding which means that athletes can concentrate on their sport without having to worry so much about working to support themselves whilst they train. OK, you could argue that the money could be better spent elsewhere but it is not cash from the public purse and good for the country as a whole when we perform well in global events.

[Ray Scully]

Joking aside, it is a stunning all-round performance from the British team. Remember, we won just one gold medal in the whole of the Atlanta Games only 20 years ago. Apart from the big name sports like golf and tennis, I think a lot of the improvement in other areas can be attributed to the influx of lottery-backed funding which means that athletes can concentrate on their sport without having to worry so much about working to support themselves whilst they train. OK, you could argue that the money could be better spent elsewhere but it is not cash from the public purse and good for the country as a whole when we perform well in global events.

I can't think of any other disbursement of Lottery Funds that impacts directly and indirectly so many folk. The Olympics so far have put a smile on many faces but woe betide them if they fail to deliver

[Gill W]

Joking aside, it is a stunning all-round performance from the British team. Remember, we won just one gold medal in the whole of the Atlanta Games only 20 years ago. Apart from the big name sports like golf and tennis, I think a lot of the improvement in other areas can be attributed to the influx of lottery-backed funding which means that athletes can concentrate on their sport without having to worry so much about working to support themselves whilst they train. OK, you could argue that the money could be better spent elsewhere but it is not cash from the public purse and good for the country as a whole when we perform well in global events.

I've been thoroughly enjoying these Olympics and there have been some stunning performances from the GB competitors.

When sport is done right it brings people together. Heaven knows we need this, after the divisions the referendum revealed.

[oldbluefox]

When sport is done right it brings people together. Heaven knows we need this, after the divisions the referendum revealed.

We seem to have done better since Brexit!!!

[Raybosailor]

What a farce in the Keirin, two restarts because the camera that records the overlap of the derny bike was at the wrong angle to decide if an infringement had occurred.
Jason Kenny was amazingly cool to come out on top to win his sixth gold in that race, his fiance Laura Trott who also made British Olympic history earlier looked far from cool as she nervously watched from the side.
Can I apologise to my neighbours if I woke them up as Jason Kenney crossed the line but I had just rode three Keirins on the edge of my settee.