Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/07/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Geoff, What would you think would have been the impact if the same amount of money was spent on the same city on more urgent social/infrastructure projects rather than stuff like stadiums and dwellings for the athletes? I agree that some parts of the infrastructure spend help a lot (roads, telecommunications, public transport, etc), dwellings can always be sold off to the well-to-do, but a large proportion of the money spent is an utter waste, especially the stadiums, which probably get used 15 -20 days a year - some, especially those for the more esoteric and niche sports, probably get used even less. Cheers Jayanand On Fri, Jul 13, 2012 at 7:44 PM, Geoff Hopkinson <hopsternew at gmail.com> wrote: > Interesting discussion, in that I 've just been to Barcelona Olympic venues > with Ted and chatted on the effects on Barcelona with tour drivers, various > locals and of course Lluis. I also spent maybe half an hour with Mariela > on-line helping locate the old media village (now local apartments). That > meant researching on a number of websites on the subject including the > socio-economic significance for Barcelona residents. > I guess no-one on the LUG who knows Ted would be surprised to hear that he > has very fond memories from '92 and enjoyd his return visit. The main > stadium and the swimming centre particularly are alive, vibrant and very > popular with locals and visitors alike. I'd add that it was a real pleasure > to be there with him naturally and some photos will follow. > > >From my very unscientific straw poll, the venues, the redevelopment and > >new > roads particularly continue to benefit the local economy. I was told > several times that the Games did really raise the city's profile and > persuade some locals that the new influx of visitors proved to be no bad > thing. > > I saw the Munich '72 site a few days earlier (next to the BMW facilities!). > Thet are still poular with visitors but I ran out of time before geting > inside them. The particular area is most remarkable for being on artificial > hills which were actually built on the discarded rubble from the > substantially destroyed city. > > Sydney in 2000 I think by any measure was very successful. Part of that may > have been supported by a national enthusiasm for sport. That last in > contrast to some largely empty venues in Athens for example. Anecdotally > Atlanta was not well regarded here. > London seems as convenient a place as any to kick British and US butts in > some events. > > my 2 EURO cents on the topic anyway. > On 13 July 2012 22:51, Nathan Wajsman <photo at frozenlight.eu> wrote: > >> I have never understood why first-class cities like London or Paris bother >> with the Olympics. There is no case of Olympics delivering any kind of >> lasting benefit. Mostly, they result in huge debts which the taxpayers end >> up paying. >> >> Some justification can be made for second-rate cities like Atlanta or >> Barcelona that hope the Olympics will "put them on the map". That >> certainly happened to Barcelona after 1992, but the question is whether it >> would not have happened anyway as Spain was entering its period of >> economic boom following accession to the EU in 1986. >> >> If I lived in London I would look for an opportunity to leave town during >> the Olympics, and I would not dream of visiting the city during the games. >> >> Cheers, >> Nathan >> >> Op Vr, 13 juli, 2012 12:41, schreef Gerry Walden: >> > This should rile Ted up: >> > >> > >> http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/2191402/london-2012-olympic-games-organisers-refuse-to-clarify-photography-rules-in-advance >> > >> > We have already had cafe owners threatened with prosecution if they have >> > an 'Olympic Breakfast' on their menu, and a florist threatened for >> > making >> > the Olympic rings out of flowers for her shop window (both because of >> > copyright!) In addition it is taking 3+ hours to get through Customs at >> > the airport, and they are siting surface to air missiles on some >> apartment >> > blocks. I think the majority of the British public will be pleased when >> > this is all over as it is suffering from severe overkill. >> > >> > Gerry >> > >> > Gerry Walden >> > +44 (0)23 8046 3076 or >> > +44 (0)797 287 7932 >> > www.gwpics.com >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Leica Users Group. >> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > >> > >> >> >> -- >> Nathan Wajsman >> photo at frozenlight.eu >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information