Are we allowed to like the Olympics?

DelicaMark · Post by **DelicaMark** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:07 pm

All I see everywhere is the negative about the Olympics. I know they cost 100's of millions of dollars that could be spent in areas that need it much more.

But, is it okay that I like to watch the Oylmpics on tv? Gasp! I watch tv too! Is it okay that I enjoy the sport part of it? Is it okay that I don't care that the atheletes in most cases are full-on professionals getting paid for their dedication? Is it okay that I like the fact that I am watching the top atheletes in the world and not a bunch of amateurs?

Must I hate them too?

loki · Post by **loki** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:15 pm

DelicaMark wrote:All I see everywhere is the negative about the Olympics. I know they cost 100's of millions of dollars that could be spent in areas that need it much more.

But, is it okay that I like to watch the Oylmpics on tv? Gasp! I watch tv too! Is it okay that I enjoy the sport part of it? Is it okay that I don't care that the atheletes in most cases are full-on professionals getting paid for their dedication? Is it okay that I like the fact that I am watching the top atheletes in the world and not a bunch of amateurs?

Must I hate them too?

It's ok, I would go further into it but I fear a political argument is about to break out and I'm trying to limit my number or internet arguments as they are rarely satisfying as it is far to easy for people to mis-read and/or ignore post/facts whatever.

mararmeisto · Post by **mararmeisto** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:27 pm

While I have nothing against the atheletes - they are doing what they love to do, and most of them are pretty good at it - it's the hypocrisy of the Games themself that I have a hard time swallowing. It's supposed to be the best of amateurs athletics but the reality is that the only way you get good enough to get to the Games is if you're a full-time athelete. This of course means that you've got to train most of the time, and in order to meet your financial commitments you tend to get 'paid' (I know, it's called 'sponsored'), etc, etc, etc. And now, the Games have even done away with that for sports like hockey and basketball (probably others too), so I don't even see why they should care about the use/misuse of 'enhancing drugs' or any of the other stuff they go on about with every Olympic.

I have two problems with these Olympics: the sponsorship and copyrighting that is fiercely 'guarded' by the IOC and VANOC (for this Games). A writer outside Seattle was slapped with a lawsuit over a book he wrote last year, titled "The Olympics", for copyright infringement - his book was about the mountain range in NW Washington!

My other problem is location: I don't think Vancouver/Whistler was a good choice. Yes, I know, Vancouver's been trying to get the Games since the '60s, but that doesn't make it a good choice. I would have prefered to have seen them held further inland, say in the Kootenays or up around Jasper.

But like 'em or hate 'em, the Games are going to take place, and this is something that escapes some of the protesters who ruined part of the run this past Friday here in Victoria: "If we could just disrupt the relay, maybe they'll cancel the Games, and we'll have won!" Dummies. <head shaking>

almac · Post by **almac** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:14 pm

tra la la! the olympics! tra la la! what a great time for...

whether the games are good for us or not is not the point...

all canadians have the RIGHT to peaceful protest, whether we like it or not. its' part of the freedom of speech clause in the canadian charter of rights and freedoms.
you know? the document that all the vanoc organizers are trampling, making it illegal to hang signs protesting the games? they are actually arresting and fining people for speaking their opinions?? apparently the vanoc police now have the power of illegal search and siezure as well.
Soon, it will be that anyone speaking out against anything the gov does will be arrested, detained and interrogated. does this remind you of anything? there was a guy in germany in the late 1930's that did this.
anyone not seeing our rights being violated, should pull their heads out of the sand, read the document, and wake up.
anyone saying that the supreme laws of canada aren't being violated are either stupid, or ignorant. but what bothers me more than anything, is that the people we pay to protect us are just blindly going along with it, instead of doing the right thing.

anyone not seeing the fact that our democracy is rapidly decaying should also take a look around. if its' still there, i would like to see the evidence.

/endrant

Meanman · Post by **Meanman** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:25 pm

I'm not sure that disrupting the games is considered peaceful. I served in the Canadian Armed Forces to uphold the Freedoms that we all share, and I find it apalling to watch some of the protestors defacing and vandalizing which is not guaranteed in The Charter.
Further, I don't quite grasp the protest of "more homes not Games" while at the same time protests that don't want the Homeless to be moved indoors. If the Homeless don't want to go indoors then why do we need more homes?

Don't get me going on the "homeless" issue either.

I think the Games are good for Canada and good for Vancouver/whistler. If you don't like it don't watch, don't participate in any of the action, don't try and profit from them. Sit at home and watch TV or go camping or go away and not make it miserable for those who want to watch them in peace.

loki · Post by **loki** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:32 pm

Meanman wrote:I'm not sure that disrupting the games is concidered peaceful. I served in the Canadian Armed Forces to uphold the Freedoms that we all share, and I find it apaling to watch some of the protestors defacing and vandalizing which is not guaranteed in The Charter.
Further, I don't quite grasp the protest of "more homes not Games" while at the same time protests that don't want the Homeless to be moved indoors. If the Homeless don't want to go indoors then why do we need more homes?

Don't get me going on the "homeless" issue either.

I think the Games are good for Canada and good for Vancouver/whistler. If you don't like it don't watch, don't participate in any of the action, don't try and profit from them. Sit at home and watch TV or go camping or go away and not mmake it miserable for those who want to watch them in peace.

X2

jessef · Post by **jessef** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:40 pm

almac wrote: the document that all the vanoc organizers are trampling, making it illegal to hang signs protesting the games? they are actually arresting and fining people for speaking their opinions?? apparently the vanoc police now have the power of illegal search and siezure as well.

I'm personally against the Olympics here but that's my own opinion.

Al,

the comments you made above are false.

It is fact that police will not intervene at all with peaceful/legal protestors, nor can or would they infringe on canadians rights charter.

There is nothing in writing or any document that prevents anyone from protesting legally, signs or no signs.

I wanted to make this point very clear and I have direct contact with vanoc and police who have confirmed this.

That is all. Enjoy the games or don't enjoy them. An event like this never makes everyone happy.

loki · Post by **loki** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:00 pm

jfarsang wrote:Al,

the comments you made above are false.

It is fact that police will not intervene at all with peaceful/legal protestors, nor can or would they infringe on canadians rights charter.

There is nothing in writing or any document that prevents anyone from protesting legally, signs or no signs.

I wanted to make this point very clear and I have direct contact with vanoc and police who have confirmed this.

That is all. Enjoy the games or don't enjoy them. An event like this never makes everyone happy.

X2

Dewy · Post by **Dewy** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:17 pm

hey i am goin up there tomorrow for a job interview for the Olympics.

tires pending...

i grew up watching them on TV with my parents. good memories.
there is sooo much history with these games and like anything that a buck can be made from politics are going to get involved.
so take the politics out and enjoy the spirit of natural athleticism and competition.
peace

Meanman · Post by **Meanman** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:46 pm

I think we should also have an ALL steroid Olympics as well. Lets let the juice onkies see what the human body is really capable of.

mararmeisto · Post by **mararmeisto** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:44 pm

almac wrote:[A]ll canadians have the RIGHT to peaceful protest, whether we like it or not. its' part of the freedom of speech clause in the canadian charter of rights and freedoms.../endrant

What a lot of protesters fail to understand is that their right to protest ENDS where the spectators' and athletes' right to participate BEGINS. And, of course, the operative word in your sentence was 'peaceful'.

And that's all I have to say about that...

Meanman · Post by **Meanman** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:07 pm

mararmeisto wrote:What a lot of protesters fail to understand is that their right to protest ENDS where the spectators' and athletes' right to participate BEGINS. And, of course, the operative word in your sentence was 'peaceful'.

Well said sir!

bikepoor · Post by **bikepoor** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:42 pm

Born in Canada. Raised in Canada. Damn glad to live in Canada. Canada's playing, I cheer for Canada!!!
We are up against athletes and teams, that in many cases are training in Canada because their countries pay for them to come here, for the best winter training available, yet we don't support our own players, and then whine because we didn't win gold in every event we were in. Some of you spoke against the pro's being in the games, yet I bet you all cheer and high five when Team Canada wins gold in hockey (men and women). It's equal players on equal fields, juiced up on roids or not. I do not, and never will support chemical enhanced sports, but I do support my country. My relatives fought to make Canada the place I was glad to grow up in, it's a damn shame so many people can't see just how good it really is!
Stop bitchin people! If you don't like it here, you can always leave!
November 11. Lest we forget.

Bikepoor

madmazda · Post by **madmazda** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:52 pm

amen.....

jessef · Post by **jessef** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:40 pm

bikepoor wrote:We are up against athletes and teams, that in many cases are training in Canada because their countries pay for them to come here, for the best winter training available, yet we don't support our own players

Totally agree. It's a shame Canada doesn't treat it's true athletes the same way as the rest of the world does.

Many of our Olympic athletes have fulltime jobs and work for a living ontop of what they do as a passion and for themselves.

Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

Are we allowed to like the Olympics?

Are we allowed to like the Olympics?

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