The Olympics are worth saving. The movement and the organization that runs it, the International Olympic Committee, have rightly taken some knocks in recent years.
There is clearly some serious reform needed as it goes forward. The IOC must reduce its increasingly ridiculous demands on host nations.
More countries are simply deciding that they just can’t afford to host a Games. This is tending to leave only bidders that are unsuitable in some way vying for the prize.
The cost of hosting a Games has to come down.
And standards have to be brought up to ensure that hosts are on track to provide the facilities promised. Accommodations, sidewalks and more were notoriously unfinished when Russia hosted the games in Sochi in 2014.
The 2016 Summer Games in Rio, Brazil, are even further behind, with some items already crossed off the list altogether – like cleaning up some of the water venues so they don’t make athletes sick.
The blame lies not so much with the host nation as it does with the IOC, which decided on the host in the first place. It was ultimately up to them to review the promises made and determine if the bidder could meet them.
So why keep it up? Why should we still have the Olympics at all?
Because the Olympics is about the world coming together, in peace, for competition.
It is about pride and setting goals and inspiration.
In spite of everything, we still love to watch the athletes, decked out in their country’s colours, strive to be the best in the world. It is still the most prestigious sports title anyone can earn. It has inspired millions to cry, cheer and hold our breath. It makes us feel a part of something bigger than ourselves. That’s worth saving.
– Black Press