The Olympic rings on the London Bridge. Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Gonzolito
The Olympics have been the one tradition that continuously attracts around half a billion live viewers worldwide, and brings attention to the culturally famous host countries. One prime example would be London, the host city for the 2012 Olympics, famous for their Royal Family, the London Eye, and Big Ben. The Olympic Games, similar to The World Cup, grasp the interest of citizens around the world. People hold their breaths during intense competitions like the gymnastics, they “wow” at the impressive, clear-cut executions of high divers, and they celebrate when a new world record is set.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) aims to unify countries through sports and celebration. However, there is controversy as to whether the Olympics are instead a business deal. Catherine Madden, an alumni of the Washington International School (WIS) in Washington D.C. and London 2012 Games attendee confirms that “sports are a common ground and every country can partake.” She herself is an avid Olympics viewer: “I love to watch the Olympics each time they roll around.” She remarked that she “had all the more desire to go” since the Games were being held in her home country. “It just happened to be lucky that we could get these tickets!” she exclaimed, explaining after that “each country is allocated a certain number of tickets,” so it was easier to get tickets (with the help from her South American friend) through Colombia rather than Great Britain.
Catherine Madden says that “[the Olympics] seem like a non- violent way for the countries to show who is the most powerful.” Despite what competitiveness there may be, British citizen Jacob Ware and a senior at WIS proudly asserts “the Olympics to me means an opportunity for my downtrodden country to showcase itself to the athletic world for arguably the first time since the 1966 World Cup,” when Great Britain hosted and won in the finals against Germany. Similar to Ware’s comment, the Olympics are a means to showcase a country. The host receives millions of viewers from television, 10.8 million Olympic ticket holders, and perhaps even a “make-over” of the country. London and other parts of UK have been under construction as permanent and temporary arenas and facilities were built for the games. The Olympics bring winning success for sports teams and visibility for the hosting country.
Hosting and planning the Olympics is a hefty, long process. One of the many problems planners and political figures face is the economic difficulties. According to Sushmita Vargo, geography teacher at WIS, “Olympics are mega-events that require upgrades to transportation and communication networks,” as well as the construction of new stadiums. The London Olympic sites were innovated and built by the company Populous. Populous built the London Olympic Stadium, located in East London. It is a new, sustainable building, nicknamed “the Green Games” for the Olympics. In this Olympic stadium, 16,500 telephones were installed, 350 miles of cables were built, 8.35 kilometers of waterways were built throughout the Olympic Park, and 30 new bridges were constructed to cross roads. This was all done to have link and connectivity in the Park.
Planning the Olympics is difficult: especially when you have to prepare for 26 Olympic sports, 29 Paralympic sports, in 29 different venues held for about a month. Tourists coming for the Olympics expect quality hotels, delicious food, fast and easy transportation, and security.
But, the Olympics put a great strain on the economy, especially since it costs so much to prepare for them. The Greek Olympics in 2004 cost around £10 billion, the London 2012 Olympics around £11 billion, with the ultimate cost of the 2008 Beijing Olympics at around £20 billion. Despite the expenses, Ms. Vargo says that the Olympics do some economic justice: there is investment into the government that increases the quality of housing, food, and buildings for the events. China implemented a policy in 2007 that reduced the number of cars on the road to get rid of the smog in Beijing. The policy stated that those with an even number at the end of their license plate would drive one day, with the odd numbers driving the next day. Johnathon Watts, journalist for the Guardian, wrote an article on April 6, 2009, explaining that this system removed 1.3 million cars, while also having 10%, or 375 tonnes less emissions daily. There is also increased foreign direct investment; there is increased number of tourists who come for the sporting events; there is job creation from construction and tourism, plus more. The economic growth can turn failing cities into popular tourist destinations. According to Ms. Vargo, Barcelona was once a rugged city that was “not on the grid.” After the 1992 Olympics, tourism in Barcelona accounts for over 12% of the GDP, while it had only been around 1% or 2% before the Games, according to a report made in 2005 by the Centris d’Estudis Olímpics.
IOC President Jacques Rogge was quoted in a June 26, 2012 article in the Guardian, saying “organizing the Olympics is always a difficult logistical challenge and you can have unforeseen circumstances to which you have to adapt.” Jacque Rogue says it takes around seven years to plan this mega-event. So, not surprisingly, Rio de Janeiro has started planning their projects already. According to the Brazilian Olympic Committee, Rio de Janeiro plans to: “restructure portions of the city to make ‘50% of sports/disciplines within 5-10 minutes travel time from the Olympic Village and 80% within 20 minutes’. In Leo Simpson’s article for mondaq.com, “Infrastructure Investments for the Olympics Rio 2016,” he writes that the city will begin many new projects. Some of these include a permanent National Olympic Training Center in Barra da Tijuca, an Olympic village and media village in Barra da Tijuca that will remain after the end of the Games, and a temporary section of the Port of Rio; 20,000 additional hotel rooms, an expansion of both the international and regional airports; improvements and expansions of the metro system, of which includes seven new stations; a new high-speed bus system; and 170 kilometers of new roads.
Past host countries set very high standards for future host countries, but we are reminded of the feeling of unity that comes out of the Games. Catherine Madden is excited she is able to attend this year and see a soccer match between Brazil and England, especially since tickets “were sold out almost immediately.” She is also staying with family, considering “hotels have really upped their prices” recently. Jacob Ware adds his bit of national pride by saying he loves “the chance to welcome the world to our doorstep.” Economic changes must be made to enhance the Olympic experience. More often than not, these changes in policies – new construction, less pollution, easily accessible transportation – greatly benefit a host country in the long-run and add to the enjoyment of their tourists.
