Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/07/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Jayanand, just some recent personal observation fom me, no socio-economic analysis nor debate. Cheers, Geoff http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman On 14 July 2012 00:38, Jayanand Govindaraj <jayanand at gmail.com> wrote: > 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 > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >