It's London!

[FrustratedPoet]

Originally posted by Bkeela
I don't know what is the worst thing about these sort of events. The death and carnage, or the mindless CNN coverage that overtakes the television.

I hope you do know which is worse, otherwise you're one sick puppy.

[Bereta_Eder]

IMO the decreased rate of visits from abroad was largely due to the systematic "terror lust" that was cultivated by some centers against Greece. (got to promote their "security companies" to grab some money )

[MOBIUS]

**** you Chirac unfortunately doesn't have the same ring as "Up yours Delors!", but it will have to do under the circumstances...

Who thinks he swung the vote in London's favour, are there many Finns on the IOC panel?

[Bereta_Eder]

The costs actually werent so much if you think that such costs as new metro extensions, tram lines, a rather attractive Athens facelift and a brand new bridge in.... Peloponese were included. Also IMO the organization was great on all respects.
IMO the bad thing was one and only (ok two): bypassing legislation to award public works through delaying them outrageously. The law dictates certain factors of transparency to be observed when awarding public works through bids. This cannot be bypassed. The only exception is when there's an "urgent need" to finish a work. By delaying the projects the gov. could invoke that law exception and award the public works to its little friends..... for triple the price....
Another thing that was bad was the terror lust and dangerology from abroad that had taken pathological size from some media. That kind of ruined the festivities for a lot of people. By the time people realized they were talking bull**** the games were almost over. But this is an asset for the future: don't pay attention to them so much.... in that respect it was good. Fortunately everyone knew that we had no danger from Arabs but mostly from them angloamerican "security companies" and their money grabing hands.
A third negative thing was that from a point on the people got "excluded" from the whole project. That was a slight communications mishap from the organization comittee but I think it was unavoidable from a point on.
But all in all it was enjoyed hugely (and slightly for rubbing it in the face of the critics, although as said they were from the offset ignored after it became obvious why they were going to such lengths with it).
Now of course it is time to pay. But things are not so tragic as Lynn portrays them. The problems are to be found elsewhere.

[MOBIUS]

'Dangerology', what a cool word...

[Bereta_Eder]

Kindinologia. I just translate it directly when I can't find a same word in english. Sometimes it sounds cool other times it makes you piss yourself in laughter.

[Tuberski]

Kindinologia sounds cooler.

ACK!

[MOBIUS]

This is probably a subtle combination of the two...

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by MOBIUS
Who thinks he swung the vote in London's favour, are there many Finns on the IOC panel?

2 Finns.

London won 54 to 50. Do the math

[MOBIUS]

Ahem...

[Bereta_Eder]

Ironically the Brits found out first hand what they were salivating about happening to Athens for 2 years straight up to the Olympics... Right the next day they found out they won the next ones... If there's a God he has humor. A bit cruel. (read it on a greek forum). But once again it shows it isn't how much money "you spend on defense". It's who you have offended.

[Bereta_Eder]

Man... it's quite the antithesis. I'm reading a greek thread about the attacks (sympathy for the victims but about england proper and blair it's the inferno!)

I'll translate.

"Let me drop my little pebble (menir), personally for england I couldnt give a damn, they deserved it (i'm talking about england not those poor sods that died) and not because they had dizzied our eros about the security of our own olympic games but because as the little fleas of the americans they first gave presence and killed children in iraq and then we had that scum blair saying those were casualties of war. eh then sorry "mr" blair this is also a war casualty since for those people the war doesnt end when you say so. "

that's to give some perspective

[FrustratedPoet]

Well then you're definitely not getting those marbles back!

What does the expression "dizzied our eros" mean?

[Provost Harrison]

I like the marbles, I think we should keep them, look nice in the middle of London

Well I suspect it will quickly be back to business as usual and back to the Olympics.

[FrustratedPoet]

Maybe we should chop those marbles up, make olympic medals out of them and give them to everyone apart from the Greeks. We can give their share to Turkey instead.