Sports in Japan - From Volleyball to Handball!

Road to the 2016 London Olympics!

Asian Games

London Olympic

Did you know- For the first time, the Olympic team of Japan complete third in the medal count in the Asian Games.At the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, South Korea, the Japanese team won 58 gold medals and took third place in the unofficial team championships, behind China (94 gold) and the host country (93 gold).

Host Country

Did you know- The 1964 Summer Olympic Games was held in Tokyo, the capital city of Japan, one of the most advanced nations on the planet. For the first time, Asia hosted the Olympics. nothing else but the option of Japan was influenced by the country's economic wealth. Only a few short years ago, Tokyo hosted the Iii Asian Games.

1972 Winter Games

Did you know- Sapporo hosted the Winter Olympic Games in the early 1970s. This Olympic event had served to inspire the modernization of Sapporo, one of the most beautiful cities in Japan.

Handball

Did you know- At the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi (India), the men's handball team won the silver medal, only behind the People's Republic of China (gold).

Volleyball

Did you know- In 1964 the First Olympic Championship was won by Japan. By 1972, the Japanese senior men's national team won the second Olympic gold medal of its history in men's volleyball in the Summer Games in Munich, West Germany. In the gold-medal game, they defeated the German Democratic Republic 3-1. Nonetheless, twenty-four years on, at the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament in the mid-1990s, the men's volleyball team was eliminated and did not qualify for the 1996 Summer Games in the United States. For the first time, it could not compete in the Olympic Volleyball Tournament. Two years ago, however, Japan, the local squad, had won the gold medal at the Hiroshima Asian Games; this team won the country's only Asian gold that decade. In 2002, they secured the bronze medal, behind South Korea (gold) and Iran (silver). Curiously, the most Asian gold medals won by a national squad is seventh by Japan: Tokyo'58, Jakarta'62, Bangkok '66, Bangkok '70, Tehran'74, and New Delhi '82, and Hiroshima'94.

Moscow Olympics

Did you know- The Xxii Olympiad was boycotted by the Japanese government because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Asian Cup Football

Did you know- By 1992, the men's Asian Tournament was won Japan. In the gold-medal game, they dethroned title holders Saudi Arabia (1-0). Eight years on, it complete in first place.

Sports in Japan - From Volleyball to Handball!

Athens 1896-London 2012 - Olympic Surprises

Australia & Oceania

Did you know... From 1960 to 1971, Ron Clarke (Australia) set 19 world records in the 5000m, 10,000m and other long-distance races. Unfortunately, Ron has never won an Olympic gold medal. In the mid-1960s, he said, "The effort is not continuous as it has to be in a race. By running fast lap times and then allowing himself time to recover, an athlete is deceiving himself as to his fitness". He is author of two books: "The Unforgiving Minute" (1966) and "The Lonely Breed" (1967).

London 2012

The United States of America

Did you know... The state of Hawaii has won ten gold medals at the Summer Olympics(1896-2008). It has more Olympic gold medals than Thailand, Venezuela, and Lithuania. The Olympic champions are: Tommy Kono ( weightlifting/ two golds,1952 & 1956), Warren Kealoha (swimming/two golds,1920 & 1924 ), Duke Paoa Kahanamouku (aquatics/ three golds, 1912 & 1920), Bryan Ezra Tsumoru Clay (track & field/ one gold medal, 2008), Buster Crabbe (swimming/ one gold medal, 1932), Herman Ronald Frazier (athletics/ one gold medal, 1976).

At the Winter Olympic Games in New York in 1980, the United States men's ice hockey team won the gold medal. While the final match, the U.S. Team scored a major upset over the Soviet Union (or Ussr), which had won the gold medal in Austria '64, France '68, Japan '72 and Austria'76.

American boxer Muhammad Ali -formerly known as Cassius Clay- failed in the Pan American Games trials in 1959, but he won the gold medal in the light heavyweight (81kg/178 lbs) type at the Games of the Xvii Olympiad in Italy in 1960.

South America

Did you know... The Uruguayan men's basketball team superior to rehearse the Western Hemisphere in the Games of the Xxiiird Olympiad in Los Angeles in 1984. A year ago, Uruguay did not compete at the Pan American Games in Venezuela.

At the 1976 Montreal Games, Brazil won only two bronze medals. Joao Carlos de Oliveira, a world-class sportsman, could not win the gold medal in the triple jump. The South American men's soccer team fulfilled, 4th place-Brazil won the Fifa World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

Venezuela's Rafael Vidal -who spent any years as a pupil in the United States and was graduated from Florida University- earned the bronze medal in the men's 200m butterfly at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, California.

Europe

Did you know... Kosovo -it is the youngest country on earth- will compete in London 2008. For political reasons, Kosovo could not share in the 2008 Olympic Games in China. This new nation could share in at least ten sports: athletics, boxing, Kayak/canoeing, gymnastics, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting, wrestling...

The British basketball teams have superior for the London 2012. Since 1952, the United Kingdom has never played in the Olympic Games, European tournaments, world championships.The British men's basketball team fulfilled, 20th place at the London Summer Olympic Games in 1948.

In Athens 1896, Paul Neumann became the first swimmer from Austria to win a gold medal.

Three Swiss sportswomen participated in the Olympic Games in 1924. It was the first time Switzerland sent sportswomen to the Summer Olympics...

At the 1896 Olympic Games, Greece -host country- won 10 gold medals and took second place in the unofficial team championships.

Central America

Did you know... Guatemala -an anti-Communist state in the 20th century- did not decline to send an Olympic team to the Olympic Games in the Ussr (currently Russia) in 1980. Honduras, Belize and El Salvador -the other anti-Communist nations in Central America- boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics...

North America

Did you know... While the 1904 Olympic Games, the Canadian men's soccer team won the global title. The Olympic winners were: Ernest Linton, John Gourley, Albert Johnston, Thomas Taylor, Alexander Hall, William Twaits, Georges Ducker, Robert Lane, John Fraser, Frederick Steep, Gordon McDonald, Albert Henderson.

Caribbean

Did you know... At the Summer Olympic Games in 1904 in Missouri(Usa), Cuba fulfilled, third in the unofficial team standings, behind the United States and Germany. Ramón Fonst earned three gold medals in fencing events.

In 1975, Hasely Crawford -a sprinter from Trinidad & Tobago- earned silver in the 100m at the Pan American Games in Mexico City. Nine months, at the Games of the Xxi Olympiad in Montreal (Canada), Hasely won the 100m event.

Africa

Did you know... Cameroon -a tropical country on the African continent- sent one competitor to the Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. Isaac Menyoli said, "Everything is wonderful. It's like being in a fantasy. I'm happy to rehearse my country".

In Athens 2004, Kirsty Coventry, a roughly unknown swimmer from Zimbabwe, won the gold medal in the women's 200m backstroke. Curiously, she is an American-educated athlete.
Women's 200m backstroke final:
1.Coventry, Kirsty ( Zimbabwe ) gold medal
2.Hoelzer, Margaret ( Usa ) silver medal
3.Nakamura, Rieko ( Japan ) bronze medal
4.Zueva, Anastasia ( Russia )
5.Beisel, Elisabeth ( Usa )
6.Simmonds, Elizabeth ( United Kingdom )
7.Nay, Meagen ( Australia )
8.Hocking, Belinda ( Australia )

Athens 1896-London 2012 - Olympic Surprises

UK at the Olympics

After the Olympics I have rekindled my belief in this nation to perform well at sport. For years I have been struggling to believe in our nation but recently my opinion has changed. This year our performance in the Olympics was incredible, for once we were actually winning medals! We even broke world records! I couldn't believe it I still have to pinch myself to remember that it was real.

In total we managed to capture 19 gold medals, 13 silver medals and 15 bronze. This is the best we have ever done at an Olympic event. Well it has amazed me that is for sure! Normally our Olympic games are troubled with injury and general failure but not this year. This year we actually got involved and got stuck in!

Olympics 2012

Last night I just watched the US open final which featured a British guy by the name of Andy Murray. I had to stop and think for a moment but then I realised that there is a British guy competing in that as well! I can't believe how much sporting success we have had this year! If only we can perform with similar levels in football then we are there!

In order to keep up the global success the UK had at the Olympics we need to start investing into local communities as much as possible. After the recent Olympics in Beijing everyone has the buzz of getting involved with some sport which is great, now the UK needs to deliver back to the public more than ever. I think we can head into London 2012 with a lot of hope and confidence if this years performance is anything to go by. The UK have adopted a "use or lose it" attitude for funding for sports. Although the UK were very successful in many games this year there were plenty which still told the same old story. Judo was an extremely under-performing sport this year which needs a lot of focus and attention over the coming years.

If the government can get things right now the UK will be enjoying far more success than what we have experienced this year for sure. With a bit of luck the UK will soon become a force to be reckoned with on the national sport circuit. There will be enough 2012 glory to go around for other athletes to not have to pretend they are enjoying it!

UK at the Olympics

Lessons Learned at the Beijing and Athens Olympics

If you are planning on heading to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London you will want to go well prepared. Hav ea look at these lessons I learned after trips to both the Athens and Beijing Olympics.

Travel between the Venues Can Take a Long Time

London 2012

Despite the exquisite communication facilities, extra taxis and fewer quarterly traffic on the roads, travelling between the venues in Beijing could sometimes take an hour or more. The city is just so big and some of the venues were extremely spread out which meant long journeys between events. With this in mind, make sure you plan accordingly. Look at the London 2012 venue map in progress and don't book tickets to events that are on opposite sides of the city unless you have a couple of hours in between.

Tickets Can Be Bought and Sold At the Event

If you didn't get an event you surely wanted to go to or if your country is doing surely well and you want to corollary them, just head to the venue an hour early and ask colse to for tickets. In my experiences there are all the time abundance of tickets on offer, especially if you are willing to pay a bit more for them. Likewise, if you want to unload extra tickets, you should be able to do it before the events starts.

Food Inside the Venues is Terrible

In both China and Greece I would have unbelievable the food to be excellent. Sadly and strangely though, it wasn't. Food inside the venues consisted generally of junk food like cookies and chocolate bars. In Athen the only 'real' food options were pizza and hotdogs and, in Beijing, you could buy mysterious self-heating noodle boxes unblemished with a huge amount of plastic packaging, but only at some of the events. Fortunately, beer was cheap!

Dressing Up Makes everything More Fun

In Beijing, my friend and I made sure to get all geared up for each event. If either of our countries (Australia or Canada) weren't competing, we put on our China t-shirts, hats and flag caps and went in maintain of China. It was a huge crowd pleaser and we met loads of cordial locals this way and made our way into abundance of their photo albums, no doubt. So to spice the whole perceive up, come with a good provide of flags, t-shirts, wigs, face paint, funny hats... Whatever you can think of.

Come prepared to Party

The Olympics are all about sports by day and partying at night. If you want to party, you will all the time have somewhere to do it at any hour of the day. It can be tough to keep up with the pace so go prepared for many sleepless nights and a lot of time spent partying with athletes and other fans from all colse to the world.

Bring Some Items to Trade

Olympic fans love to trade things. either it be the ever favorite pins, flags of your home country, hats, shirts, noisemakers, inflatable hockey sticks and kangaroos... It doesn't matter. If you come with things to trade, you will leave with a lot of appealing souvenirs from all colse to the world.

Lessons Learned at the Beijing and Athens Olympics

Update - 2008 Summer Olympics Mens Basketball Qualifiers

The next week will be an exciting and very important one for basketball players in many countries of the world. That is because it is time to decide who the last 3 teams are that will participate in the Mens Basketball tournament in the Beijing Olympics.

The remaining teams that will be completing for sports over the next week at the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men in Athens Greece are Cameroon, Cape Verde, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Canada, Lebanon, Korea, Greece, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, and New Zealand. The tournament will go as follows:

Olympics 2012

The teams are divided into 4 groups with 3 teams in each group. Group A contains Brazil, Greece, and Lebanon. Group B contains New Zealand, Cape Verde, and Germany. Group C contains Slovenia, Korea, and Canada. Group D contains Cameroon, Croatia, and Puerto Rico. Each team will play both of the other teams in its group. The winning team will be awarded 2 points while the losing team is awarded 1 point. The top 2 teams in each group will then advance to a single elimination tournament.

The two teams that win the semifinals of the tournament advance to the Olympics. The two teams that lose in the semifinals will play each other and the winner will fill the last spot in the Olympics.

The three teams that advance in the qualifying tournament will join Angola, USA, Argentina, Iran, Russia, Lithuania, Australia, Spain, and China for the Mens Basketball tournament in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Best of luck to all of the participating teams May the best teams advance.

!!Update: The tournament is now over and the teams that advanced the tournament are Greece, Croatia, and Germany!!

Update - 2008 Summer Olympics Mens Basketball Qualifiers

Olympic Sport List - The Most Highly Recognized Sports Events on the Planet

The Olympics are the most highly recognized sports events on the planet. Taking place summer and winter every four years, the Olympics draw huge numbers of spectators and a television audience that is unrivaled.

There are a number of sports on the list that might sound familiar, and others that might be surprising.

Olympics 2012

Olympic Sport List: Summer Water Sports

Aquatics include four separate disciplines - swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming.

Diving has been apart of the Olympics since 1904 when it was introduced at the St. Louis Games. Swimming is an Olympic sport with a great number of events. Since 1912, women have been able to participate. Synchronized swimming is an event that is contested both individually and as a duet. Water Polo has been apart of the Olympics list since 1900; however, women have only been able to participate since the year 2000.

Canoeing is broken into two events - slalom canoeing and flatwater. The boats used for this event include a canoe and a kayak. The kayak can hold between one and four kayakers.

Rowing has a rich Olympic tradition, having been a part of the lineup since 1900; lightweight rowing was introduced to the Olympics in 1996.

Sailing is a popular event that debuted in Paris at the turn of the century. Initially it was a men's sport, made up of 10 events. It took until 1992 for women to become a part of this sport.

Olympic Sport List: Summer Group Sports

Badminton is a fun and exciting sport to watch. It was a late entry into the Olympic world, having first been played in Barcelona in 1992.

Basketball has been a part of the Olympics since 1936.

Field Hockey became an Olympic staple in 1908 and was briefly removed from the list in 1924. In 1928 it was returned when Pakistan and India were champions.

Football, surprisingly, involves both men and women's events. Football has been a part of every Olympiad except for the years 1896 and 1932.

The Chinese have always heavily dominated Table Tennis. There are singles and doubles events and it has been a part of the summer roster since 1988.

Tennis has a long-standing relationship with the Olympics and has been a part of the tradition since 1896.

Volleyball is separated into two distinct disciplines, beach and indoor volleyball.

Olympic Sport List: Summer Individual Games

Archery has been an event since 1900.

Athletics are separated into many events such as relay races, hurdles, various meter races, long and high jumps, pole vaulting, shot put and more. Both men and women are involved in Athletics.

Boxing has been an Olympic event since 1904 and will be open to female contestants starting in the 2012 games.

Cycling is separated into four disciplines: mountain biking, track cycling, BMX and road cycling. Open to both men and women cyclers, this event has been a part of the Olympiad tradition since 1896.

Equestrian include the disciplines Jumping, Eventing and Dressage and has been part of the Olympics since 1900.

Regardless of the event, every Olympic sport requires extreme discipline, endurance and dedication by its participators.

Olympic Sport List - The Most Highly Recognized Sports Events on the Planet

Olympic Facts - 2008 Olympic Football Tournament

Great Britain did not qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. It won three Olympic titles: Paris 1900, London 1908 and Stockholm 1912. In 2012, Great Britain will serve as organizer of the Olympic Games.

The Brazilian Olympic football team will go to Beijing looking forward the first gold medal. This team will no doubt be the nucleus of the nation's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Brazil did not compete in the Olympic football tournament 13 times: Paris 1900, Saint Louis 1904, London 1908, Stockholm 1912, Antwerp 1920, Paris 1924, Amsterdam 1928, Berlin 1936, London 1948, Melbourne 1956, Moscow 1980, Barcelona 1992, Athens 2004.

Olympics 2012

From 1952 to 2004, Hungary has won 5 Olympic medals, including 3 golds. It has more gold medals than Brazil (3), Argentina (3) and Nigeria (1).

The Honduran men's national team will travel to Beijing to attend the Olympics. Honduras will make its first appearance in the Peoples Republic of China. Tegucigalpa does not have full diplomatic relations with Beijing. Honduras won the 2008 CONCACAF Olympic Qualification Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee (USA). This Central American country surprised the world with its triumph...

Belgium has had famous football players: Wilfried van Moer, Raoul Lambert, Ruddy Smidts, Marc Emers, Danny Boffin, Marc Degryse and Marc Wilmost. In 1920, Belgium won the Olympic title.

Cote d'Ivoire -also known as Ivory Coast- qualified for the 2008 Olympics. This African team representing Africa at the 2006 FIFA World Championships in Germany. It is one of the best teams in Africa. "We are one of the few African countries to have an organized youth league. Great players have always come out of the Ivory Coast; I'm thinking of Laurent Pokou in the 1970s; and Youssou Fofana in the 1980s. But now the footballing infrastructure is much better and so many youngsters are getting the right coaching", said Henri Michel (former coach of the Cote d'Ivoire national soccer team). Ivory Coast won the African Cup of Nations in 1992.

Argentina has famous coaches: Cesar Luis Menotti, Carlos Salvador Bilardo, Daniel Passarella, Ramon Diaz, Jose Peckerman, Marcelo Bielsa...

The Serbian men's national team will travel to Beijing for its first Olympics. Football is the most popular sport in Serbia (formerly Serbia & Montenegro).

Mexico did not qualify for the 2008 Olympics. It competed in the Olympic Soccer Tournament 8 times: London 1948, Tokyo 1964, Mexico City 1968, Munich 1972, Montreal 1976, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Athens 2004.

The People's Republic of China made its debut at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in South Korea...

Argentina -FIFA 1978 world champion and junior world champion- boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. It had won the South American Olympic Football Qualification Tournament. Argentina was replaced by Venezuela.

The Italians are Europe's best hope of reaching the finals. Italy won the gold medal at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin. This European country is well known for its great tradition in soccer.

Brazil will have both its soccer teams (women and men) at Beijing 2008.

South Korea will in China to participate in the Olympics. It competed in the Olympic Football Tournament 7 times.

Nigeria is one of the favourites to win the men's Olympic Soccer tournament. The national team won the gold medal at the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA. Nigeria defeated Argentina 3-2 and won the Olympic title for the first time. This African country received an invitation to play in the Olympics in 1980 in Moscow (USSR/ currently Russia). Sunnie Ephraim (journalist from Lagos) says: "Qualifying for the Games is one thing; doing well and winning the gold medal as seen in Atlanta, United States 11 years ago is different ball game altogether.

Argentina is one of the hot favorites for the Olympic title. Why? This Latin American country won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2007(for the second time in a row). Argentina also won the gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens (Greece). Final standings: 1.Argentina, 2.Paraguay, 3.Italy, 4.Iraq, 5.Mali, 6.South Korea, 7.Australia, 8.Costa Rica. The Argentine team won four matches in the group "C" (Serbia-Montenegro 6-0, Tunisia 2-0, Australia 1-0). In the quarterfinals, Argentina defeating Costa Rica 4-0. In the semifinals, Argentina beat Italy 3-0 and went on to win the final against Paraguay 1-0. The Olympic champions were Mariano Gonzales, Luciano Figueroa, Javier Saviola, German Lux, Wilfredo Caballero, Roberto Ayala, Fabricio Coloccini, Gabriel Heinze, Clemente Rodríguez, Leandro Fernandez, Javier Mascherano, Cristian Gonzalez, Nicolas Medina, Cesar Delgado, Carlos Tevez, Mauro Rosales.

Soccer/ football was first featured at the 1900 Olympic Games.There were nine different champions in the last nine Olympic Games: Poland (Munich 1972), East Germany (Montreal 1976), Czechoslovakia (Moscow 1980), France (Los Angeles 1984), USSR (Seoul 1988), Spain (Barcelona 1992), Nigeria (Atlanta 1996) and Argentina (Athens 2004).

The 1976 Olympic Soccer Tournament were attended by 13 nations: North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Guatemala, Israel, France, Mexico, Canada, Spain, Brazil, USSR/ Soviet Union, Poland and East Germany. Surprisingly, Uruguay -it was replaced by Cuba- did not participate in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Zambia, Nigeria and Nigeria had withdrawn from the Olympics, due to participation of New Zealand.

In the Beijing 2008 Olympic Football Tournament 16 men's teams will compete in four groups:

Group "A": Argentina (South America/ winner of the previous edition), Cote d'Ivoire (Africa), Australia (Oceania), Serbia (Europe).

Group "B": Holland (Europe), Nigeria (Africa), Japan (Asia), USA.

Group "C": China (host country), New Zealand (Oceania), Brazil (South America), Belgium (Europe).

Group "D": South Korea (Asia), Cameroon (Africa), Honduras (Central America), Italy (Europe).

Olympic Facts - 2008 Olympic Football Tournament

Cheap Hotels for London Olympic Games

Since March 15th you can apply for tickets for the London Olympic Games. This means that population are already going to start searching for cheap hotels. Not all websites will let you book so far in advance. However if you hunt considered or book with the hotels directly you might get yourself a beyond doubt cheap room rate.

There is no guarantee of receiving Olympic Games tickets just because you have applied. Although if you have sent off your application, I would urge you to start reasoning about accommodation. population without Olympic Games tickets will voyage to London just to soak up the atmosphere and they will need cheap hotels too.

London 2012

The Olympic Games takes place in 33 venues in total. The main venues are situated within central London but other venues are placed as far away as Windsor, Essex and Weymouth. Thankfully the 17,000 athletes heading for the London event, will not be finding for cheap hotels. They will be staying in the purpose built athletes village. After the games the athletes community will be transformed into 2800 new homes for east London.

The Olympic Stadium will be the centre of the Summer 2012 Olympics. The stadium will have a capacity of practically 80,000 people. This will make it the third largest stadium in Britain behind Wembley Stadium and Twickenham. After the Olympic games Tottenham Hotspurs and West Ham United are concerned in using the venue for their own stadium. A decision still has to be made.

So where is the best hotel to stay during the Olympic Games? If you are finding for a cheap hotel which is placed near to the Olympic Stadium, you need to be finding for hotels which are placed in the east of London. Holiday Inn is the lawful hotel service providers to London 2012 Olympics. The Holiday Inn Stratford is an ideal choice. The hotel is situated a mere fifteen exiguous walk from the lawful stadium. The hotel is well served by social transport. An underground middle point is situated less than 2 miles away. The chamber provides excellent value for money and is ideal if you are travelling with a family.

If you still want a cheap rate but are finding for something a exiguous more upmarket then think hotels in the Docklands area. Pick from many well known hotels chains such as Marriott, Radisson, Hilton and Crowne Plaza.

Another chamber alternative might be to think booking an apartment. think the Town Hall luxury apartments in Bethnal Green. The apartments are very upmarket but if you book early you might be able to get a cheap rate. The apartments were renovated in 2010. On site facilities include a restaurant, bar, pool, gym and spa.

I beyond doubt hope the London Olympics will give a much needed boost to the British economy. The event is improbable to attract tens of thousands of extra visitors. It looks like the British hoteliers are going to be very successful, even if the British athletes are not!

Cheap Hotels for London Olympic Games

The Olympic Games Bring the World Closer Together and That's a Good Thing!

Not long ago, I was talking with an acquaintance in London about the 2012 Olympic Games, and we both agreed how leading the Olympic Games are from a humanitarian standpoint, as it helps bridge the political, cultural, religious, and theoretical divides. The long-term benefits from both the hosting countries, and the visitors are immense. Surely, these games have had a distinct impact on the world, and our combined histories. But, not all can be said to be so warm and fuzzy as my international acquaintance reminds us;

"That said, however, I believe the cost of hosting the games are exorbitant and not sufficiently communicated to the populace of the bidding cities ahead of the tender process."

London Olympic

Yes, he is speaking of the challenges of cost over runs in London leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games, and the Iocs International Olympic Committee's oversight and rules. Okay so, in hindsight he'd be spoton when addressing concerns Olympic costs and how they work on a capitalistic or free-society, where the citizens pick and vote on issues of national expenditures, taxation, and the like - as those issues have come into more than sufficient controversy over the years.

But, in Dictatorship or Communist countries, well it doesn't matter, as what those in fee say goes, "the state knows best" motif and you can like it or die basically. Okay so, in the capitalist nations bidding on the Olympics, what we need to growth the transparency and facts flow, true accounting upfront. Maybe the Ioc needs to make this an "additional criteria" to the bidding because for them it matters what the host country's citizen has to say.

If the host country's citizens are pissed off then, tourists will not be greeted with the warmth which would have fostered hereafter tour or distinct benefits for trade, political ties, or friendships. Plus, the negative media will be played world-wide, which is not so good either, as it puts a black mark on the event, and hosting country, not to mention the Ioc itself - and hereafter bidding and award decisions. My acquaintance also notes that if hosting the Olympic Games leaves a bad taste in mouth's of the citizen of the hosting country, ultimately this will seriously detract from the Olympic Brand.

Indeed, this is touchy topic, and yet, it is leading for hosting nations and their citizens to address up front. I hope you will please think all this and think on it. You may email me with comments, questions, or concerns as usual.

The Olympic Games Bring the World Closer Together and That's a Good Thing!