THE OLYMPICS- you get your say. i wanna know what you think?

Question

It has cost around 54 billion dollars to arrange and construct everything needed for the 2008 games. Is this a little over the top? Or am I just being a spoiler? I find it hard to comprehend the necessity of such an extravagant amount of money. How is this justified? Especially when you look at those citizens in China who are living far below the poverty line. And I am sure I don't need to even go near the topic of children starving in Africa/ Central America etc etc. But what really made me sit up and take notice was a news clip I saw on the TV3 Website. You can watch this under the following link, http://www.3news.co.nz/Video/World/tabid/313/articleID/66321/cat/62/Default.aspx#video

It shows how many of China's citizens had their homes destroyed to make way for the Olympics. These people have not recieved compensation and many have been arrested for trying to protest about what is happening.This is not the first time I have heard about this. Months ago this type of thing was being shown on the news. This makes me think that olympic athletes worldwide must be aware of this issue. I wonder how you could attend such an event, having knowledge of the cost of the games on the lives of people unable to adequately defend themselves. Has there been any mention of a boycott, or are people just happy to ignore this, as long as they are able to compete in this event? I know many athletes have trained for years to get to this point, but I am still dubious as to whether or not this is really worth it.

tell me what you think.

Answer 1

Well, most of their people are happy...so I guess their government was fine with bulldozing a few hundred homes to bring entertainment to a billion of their people and 3 billion around the world who are watching the games.

In capitalistic nations, this is called "eminent domain" - where the government can seize private property for the 'public good' - such as seizing private homes to build highways.

Of course, mainland China is a communist country - they don't have private property so everything belongs to the government anyways.

Answer 2

I LOVE the Olympics but the amount of dollars spent on it is ridiculous.  I know Sydney 2000 came out with a huge deficit that the tax payers will be paying off for years and years.  They could host the Olympics without spending the amount of money they do.  It is just typical of this day and age that everyone has to have the best and out do each other.

Answer 3

If you did more research, you would find out that more than 80% of money was spent on permanent infrastructure. these things would do beijing more good than harm. This improves the overall efficiency of the city. very useful for investors

Answer 4

It's an honor to host the Olympics, China went above and beyond and made this years Olympics unbelievable and it shows. Many Chinese are proud of what China has put together for the Olympics, and I agree.

54 billion, I have a feeling they will earn more than that back due to the Olympics.

China needed to go out on a limb here, they made a $54 billion statement to the world, they aren't stupid.

Answer 5

I think they spent around 40 billion dollars. Why would the athletes care? They give up training for just political reasons? This is an old question. So many questions like these.  

Answer 6

ya its a crapload of money but I can't tell someone else's country what to do...