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It was covered in the Spanish media to the point of exasperation. Every news programme devoted its first half hour to how "we" were on the point of making a historic moment yet again. They had done montages of how the new installations would change the landscape of Madrid, create billions of jobs, and set the country back on its feet forever.
Oh well, what a shame. Congrats to Tokyo. Back to real life.
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I didn't believe a word of it, Francis. That was my point.
By the way, they're STILL on about it - I've just watched, incredulous, the midday news. Yesterday it was half an hour of people celebrating the "win", today it was half an hour of shots of people crying in the streets of Madrid. Interviews with five-year-old children: "How do you feel?" "Sad". Lengthy reports about how we had come so far.
Then the newsreader said, "Oh well, life goes on. Now, Syria..." That lasted 30 seconds, then it was time for the weather forecast.
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I actually wondered about that, Mike J. Apart from in the short-term, did the London Olympics really give a huge boost to the UK economy? I've read conflicting reports about how the money was invested and its results.
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Spain is broke. Turkey has Erdogan.
So the vote went for Japan.
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I remember GREECE was not to happy about the end results of their OLYMPICS years ago.
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The host city generally loses money on the whole proposition, in the end.
I can't imagine any city that would want it, at this point. The whole organization is corrupt and most of the athletes are juicing, anyway (which is fine with me, just don't bother keeping score).
There is an idea I whole-heatedly approve of:
Build a state-of-the-art sports complex in Greece. Have it overseen by the IOC.
My personal vision of this continues:
Every 4 yrs a new country is picked to host the event. They pay for any refurbishment or upgrades of the facilities for those games. They also redecorate to reflect their Home Country.
When the Games happen there are Host-Country-Specific events in Greece and the Home Country. Lots of cultural stuff in Greece and at Home. Food, music, arts-related stuff.
The Home Country also sets up free viewing centers in their cities so that anyone can see any of the games live via satellite. Big, open places with video screens for every event.
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I am one of those here in Spain that I didn't want the Games in Madrid. That money should invested in things more important.
However I understand the sadness in Madrid.
During the last 20 years the city has invested a lot of money in the games with the 80% of the structures already built. Don't forget, this is the third consecutive time that Madrid tries to get the Games, so a lot of people though this time Madrid was going to win. They were wrong.
Madrid will continue to be one the greatest European cities without the Games.
Congratulations to Tokyo!
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Congrats Tokyo. Good luck.
"Ah ha! You build... stadium... now!!!"
Sorry, sorry everyone, sorry. I couldnt resist.
Okay, I'll get down to sick bay for my obvious-gag and malaria tablets...
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