Episode 7 - Are The Olympics A Bad Deal?

Episode Description

Our hosts take a look at these 2020 Olympics Games from a holistic perspective. What goes on in a city when it has to prepare for the games? What are the political, economical, and environmental issues to consider during the 10 year preparation that leads up to this event?

Topics Covered

1. From a city's perspective, is it worth holding the Olympics Games anymore?
2. The Politics - Pride
3. IOC Demands
4. The Environment
5. Finances
6. The Politics - Nationalism, Cold War, Soft Power

Additional Links

Is There Home-Field Advantage At The Olympics? - https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/is-there-home-field-advantage-at-the-olympics/

The Incredible Logistics of the Tokyo Olympics - https://youtu.be/B3FKtBNEBRc

How Newington and Sydney’s Olympic Village became a world-renowned neighbourhood - https://www.domain.com.au/news/how-newington-and-sydneys-olympic-village-became-a-world-renowned-neighbourhood-990122/

Cold War rivalries split the Olympics in Moscow in 1980 - https://apnews.com/article/sports-virus-outbreak-afghanistan-boycotts-cold-war-8b447c53e96621f1ca2b06e8621b351f#:~:text=TheCold War made for,rivalry split the Olympics altogether.&text=Four years later%2C the Soviet,on through the 1980 Olympics.

Look inside China’s secretive Olympic training camps, The Economist - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-OGKGmxSbw

Global City Ranking Scale - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_city

2020 Global Cities Index - https://www.kearney.com/global-cities/2020

Weightlifting-Diaz wins first ever Olympic gold for Philippines - https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/weightlifting-diaz-wins-first-ever-olympic-gold-philippines-2021-07-26/

Yes, race walking is an Olympic sport. Here’s how it works. - https://youtu.be/W1sxFgTUbWo

The Most Unexpected Gold Medal In History - Steven Bradbury | Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAADWfJO2qM

What Makes Water Polo The Hardest Olympic Sport - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiWfSxmWvwE

Simone Biles Rejects a Long Tradition of Stoicism in Sports - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/28/sports/olympics/simone-biles-mental-health.html

LeBron and the Calm App - https://app.www.calm.com/program/Kl8gZDaKoW/train-your-mind

Michael Phelps and his mental health - https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2838142-michael-phelps-details-struggles-with-anxiety-and-depression-on-twitter

Credits

Recorded 8 August 2021

Co-hosts JT Yeung and John Raj