2016 Summer Olympics: Rio preparations are 'worst' ever, says IOC VP

[Tyrath]

World Cup in Dubai.

The United Arab Emirates, which includes Qatar

Is everyone really this misinformed about the Middle East?

Also still mayad that Qatar bought out the world cup. I really wish the U.S. would win a bid so I could go to some games.

[Alvinho]

I really wish I could go to at least one World Cup match in my liftime.

Fuck doing that in 2014 (right in my backyard too, but the unrealistically priced tickets are very scarce). No way in hell I'm doing 2018 (Russia = cold). 2022 if I'm a millionaire by then, and that's iffy, because Qatar = hot.

Also, some of you should look into this:

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/jus...s/mapgame.html

[archibaldcrane]

Is everyone really this misinformed about the Middle East?

Hey don't lump me in with that guy, I know Qatar and UAE are different countries - UAE was just the first one that popped into my head when I thought of a petrodollar-soaked elite class exploiting the fuck out of indentured servants is all. It's not like I follow soccer.

[Tyrath]

Shrug, I was working off the impression that you read the article you posted which said Qatar..

[archibaldcrane]

Shrug, I was working off the impression that you read the article you posted which said Qatar..

Nah, shot from the hip first like a good American, then googled it.

[Moss]

I really wish I could go to at least one World Cup match in my liftime.

Fuck doing that in 2014 (right in my backyard too, but the unrealistically priced tickets are very scarce). No way in hell I'm doing 2018 (Russia = cold). 2022 if I'm a millionaire by then, and that's iffy, because Qatar = hot.

Also, some of you should look into this:

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/jus...s/mapgame.html

It's in the 60's in St. Pete right now

[Byrd]

I really wish I could go to at least one World Cup match in my lifetime.

I went to a couple of Womens' World Cup matches in '03, and had a really good time. Saw Ghana-Australia in one and Germany-USA in the other. I'm sure it's only about 25% as intense as mens' games, but it still had the international atmosphere. Seeing the Ghanaian drums marching through the stadiums, and thousands of Ghana-ins going absolutely apeshit after every goal was a lot of fun. Plus, being part of a U-S-A chant was really cool, even though Germany won 3-0.

One thing I would think that a US-hosted cup would provide is relatively cheap tickets. The venues are already built, and much larger than those in corresponding countries. Plus, the relatively small level of interest by the host country wouldn't artificially raise prices as much as it might in other countries.

Shrug, I was working off the impression that you read the article you posted which said Qatar..

You know what's even tougher than knowing where it is? Pronouncing it.

[archibaldcrane]

You know what's even tougher than knowing where it is? Pronouncing it.

Jesus that's freaky, it sounds like he's being dubbed over every time he says it in Arabic.

[Byrd]

Jesus that's freaky, it sounds like he's being dubbed over every time he says it in Arabic.

Yeah, I tried it a few times and had no luck. I think I'm going to go with "Cutter" and accept that although I'm not saying it right, I'm still saying it better than 98% of Americans.

[Tyrath]

I'm Indian. Easy enough for me to say it lol

[Wulfgang]

Step 1: Watch Olympics on TV
Step 2: Go to Rio for Carnival.
Step 3: Skip ??? and go straight to profit

Went to Rio for Carnival in 2011; have no words that adequately describe that trip.

[Pendulum]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/oly...-schedule.html

So worried are Olympic organisers by how far behind schedule the 2016 Rio Games has fallen, London has reportedly been asked, in secret, if it could host the event at the last minute.
According to the London Evening Standard, an informal approach has been made by IOC chiefs to ascertain whether London's 2012 Olympic venues could be brought back into use.
The build-up to the Rio Games has been labelled a shambles, with every venue badly behind schedule, spiralling costs and accusations of negligence.
IOC vice-president John Coates has already called Brazil's preparations "the worst I've experienced", with just two years to go and a football World Cup to host in between.
An "unprecedented" special task force has been set up to try and speed up preparations but the situation on the ground is said to be "critical".

A source told the Standard: "At a comparable planning stage in 2004 Athens had done 40 per cent of preparations on infrastructure, stadiums and so on. London had done 60 per cent. Brazil has done 10 per cent - and they have just two years left. So the IOC is thinking, 'What's our plan B?'
"Obviously, the answer would be to come back to London. It's very unlikely but it would be the logical thing to do."
London has hosted the Olympics in an emergency before. In 1908 the event was due to be held in Italy, but Mount Vesuvius erupting forced a move.
However, 'London 2016' would be a "worst-case scenario" because many of the 2012 sites have already been converted into public use. The cost of upgrading them to competition-standard again would cost millions, not to mention that the athletes' village is now populated by private residents.
Indeed, a spokeswoman for the International Olympic Committee said the question of the Rio Games being moved to London was a "non-starter and unfeasible".

[Serra]

Some pictures of the Rio Olympic site:

http://gizmodo.com/rios-olympic-site...air-1578448738

These are the main problems that have persisted for decades and that need to be eliminated within two years:

only around 40 percent of sewage is treated, and the rest ends up in the city's water
between 80 and 100 tons of trash end up in the Guanabara Bay every day
12 locations along beaches in Zona Sul are unsafe for swimming
health problems from exposure to fecal matter can happen to anyone, especially at the beach
Hepatitis A is often transmitted through sewage exposure
raw sewage can also cause diarrhea, microbial diseases, and parasites
sewage attracts insects and rats, which can then transmit diseases
raw sewage can contaminate drinking water when it rains

[Osede]

I have only been to U-20 world cup before, back in 1997 or so. Since these usually required less spending than the regular world cup. And not much people cares except local people who crazy on football. But the atmosphere was fun. Everyone in stadium just pretend they root for one side, then cheer and shout each other.

Of course, the ticket was cheap, like 10 malaysia ringgit (3.3 USD). And the last match of group stage was giving out free for student. Although I still bought the ticket by booth instead

[Alvinho]

I'll just have to content with having watched the Brazilian olympic team play in 96 (saw 3 matches at the Orange Bowl; against Hungary, Nigeria and Ghana).

[Buffy]

http://espn.go.com/olympics/story/_/...sks-test-finds

"If you get any of the water in your mouth or nose, you will be sick for several days."

[Xno Kappa]

Damn. Some of those numbers are scary as hell.

[Ratatapa]

Don't wanna make a new thread but Beijing chosen to host 2022 Winter olympics

[Buffy]

You should make a new thread. It'll be relevant 7 years from now and if we're all still posting on BG we can complain about a 7 year old thread while we sit in the old folks home.

[Byrd]

The AP found another Olympic site thought to have been largely cleaned up in recent years, the Rodrigo de Freitas Lake, is among the Games' most polluted waters. Results ranged from 14 million adenoviruses per liter to 1.7 billion per liter.

By comparison, water quality experts who monitor beaches in Southern California become alarmed by viral counts spiking to 1,000 per liter.

Holy shit. Almost literally.