Comments on The Science of Sport: It's Rio in 2016

I would love to go to Rio

2009-10-07T12:20:56.395+02:00

I would love to go to Rio

I like sport too, but one-off extravaganzas like t...

2009-10-05T22:56:28.016+02:00

I like sport too, but one-off extravaganzas like the Olympics have an appalling record as investments.

The venues almost always end up white elephants, the costs are always higher than anticipated, and the wider economic benefits are illusory.

Nor does hosting the games encourage wider participation in sport. If you want to improve the health of the population, spend the money on cycling paths (and, heck, in the USA, spend the money on sidewalks).

Ah, you all seem to be confusing the IOC with a de...

2009-10-05T14:43:29.250+02:00

Ah, you all seem to be confusing the IOC with a democratic, accountable organisation! (Read books by Andrew Jennings http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dishonored-Games-Corruption-Money-Olympics/dp/1561711993/ref=pd_sim_b_1)

I was living in Melbourne during the bidding of the 1996 Olympics, which was clearly superior to Atlanta in every respect except for one, we were not the global headquarters of Coke! Melbourne went out in the 3rd of 7 rounds. The bookies had Melbourne slightly ahead of Toronto and Athens. Also, one of Australia's own IOC members were working against Melbourne as he knew that if Melbourne did not win the 1996 olympics, his town, Sydney would bid for the 2000 Olympics. (http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympic-games-urban-rivalry-disrupts-sydney-plans-1416775.html)

The bidding process always has been, and always will be corrupt. Chicago losing will almost certainly have nothing to do with Chicago's bid process. IOC members are paying back favors, or getting favors for bids/jobs/money down the track

Being from Chicago I can tell you that people here...

2009-10-04T15:38:46.601+02:00

Being from Chicago I can tell you that people here are not up in arms becuase Chicago lost. We all understood that Rio was the favorite. We are up in arms because we lost in the first round of voting with a paltry 18 of 96 votes. Their is a feeling that an American backlash was behind this rejection. This fix was in from the beginning

Had Chicago lost in the final round to Rio in a close vote (like London over Paris 4 years ago), I believe most would have understood that.

I don't know why the people of Madrid thought they...

2009-10-04T15:31:36.412+02:00

I don't know why the people of Madrid thought they were going to win. Europe has had 3 of the last 6 Olympics (including 2012).

I don't know why the people of Tokyo thought they were going to win. Asia has had 3 of the last 6 Olympics (including Australia).

So, by this logic only Dubai, Mumbai Tel Aviv and Johannesburg need to apply fo 2020. All others will be summarily rejected.

I don't know why people thought Chicago could win....

2009-10-04T00:51:47.192+02:00

I don't know why people thought Chicago could win. USA have had 2 out of the last 7 Olympic games!

This is an obvious decision...who would choose Chi...

2009-10-03T23:28:04.316+02:00

This is an obvious decision...who would choose Chicago over Rio De Janero?? wtf

This is a major story, I am very excited for the f...

2009-10-03T02:02:49.154+02:00

This is a major story, I am very excited for the first Olympiad in South America. Very Exciting!

I'd love to go there!

2009-10-03T00:41:45.371+02:00

I'd love to go there!

Rio all the way !! I was hoping Rio would win and ...

2009-10-02T21:28:26.744+02:00

Rio all the way !! I was hoping Rio would win and it did. Jonathan take heart, it'll soon be time for the babes in bikini and capoeira.