Greetings!

I'm not going to any venues.

I will watch some of on the telly.  It will depend on when I am free to watch - perhaps catch some skating, some hockey, some skiing . . . whatever I have time to see.

Is it a waste of tax payers dollars - perhaps the taxpayers in BC will find out.  I have great admiration and respect for the athletes, their competition, and the history of the Olympic games, and I am not against the games by any means.  But I can't understand why the "show" - the opening and closing ceremonies gets more and more elaborate - it must cost a fortune for the theatrics, stages, entertainment, etc.

Go, Team Canada, Go!

Hope, peace, joy, love ...

 I like the idea behind the Olympics.  I like the whole notion of people from around the globe coming together and competing in athletics.  It's great.  The foundational spirit of it all is great.  I can celebrate that part.

I think however the whole affair has just got so big and bloated with costs and things that have little to do with the competitors on the field that it's becoming unwieldly.  

 The budget for security alone is now over 1 billion dollars.  Thats a whole lot of money for something that lasts for few weeks. 

OTOH, it could be seen as a massive stimulus program!

The cost of holding the games will soon make it impossible for almost anybody to want to host them unless they can sell off marketing rights to every square foot of each venue

No, I didn't go to the venues. No, I didn't watch any events at home. I watched a great deal of the Olympics at the local Cineplex. No, I didn't wear the red mittens.

I appreciate the spirit of the Olympics - the dedicated, determined athletes, the hard work for training, the many events, and having people from around the world get together. I have great difficulty with the cost and hoopla of the Olympics. I live in Vancouver and there will be many things that will affect us - and already are. So much money – billions of dollars - are being spent on venues, security, accommodation, places for media to be/stay, road changes, etc. etc. and that’s well in advance of the games actually starting. Many people I know in Vancouver wish they could or are considering leaving town during the Olympics. The ticket prices to events are very high and even if I had the money, very few people from this area have even been able to get tickets to events. I have friends with relatives from other countries who were able to get tickets (and are coming here), but I don't know of any average Vancouver tax payer who has tried who has been able to get tickets (I’m sure there are people in the Vancouver area who have gotten tickets, but none of the people I know have – friends, neighbours, people from school, work, etc  …..). Many tickets have gone to corporations and politicians and in fairness to other countries, tickets have been made available outside of BC and Canada. I will likely be watching some of the events on TV because I appreciate the athletic events, but as I said I have great difficultly with the cost and so much of what’s happening to hold the Olympics here.

spam reported.

spam reported.  is this some kind of theme?

I thought it was so nice of benisden to compliment all of us on our writing

as an afterthought

Whatever else the Olympics may have achieved, the Nike logo was once more front and centre in the view of the world. Nike is an interesting personage in the ancient world,together with her sisters.  

Nike is every bit as interesting in our present experience. We may consider the ancient language metaphorically to find indications and insights helpful as we seek emergence of the common good.

Nike is a global entity animating and rewarding Tiger Woods, who smiles to endorse Nike on slick pages of misogynist magazines promoting consumption of toys and goodies designed with men of means in mind. The most blatant being "Stuff for Men", featuring on the cover, and on the pages,  near naked photos of young female pop stars surrounded by advertisements representing major global corporations; American automakers being conspicuous. The young women are paid millions and treated as 'goddesses' to generate desire for consumables in adolescents and young adults, as well as mature men and women.

Democracy depends on critical consciousness exercised as personal responsibility and we educate for mass consciousness by resort to mass spectacle. Nike presides over this process figuratively if not literally.

 flagged above as spam.

Flag on the play? What does this mean?

The flagged post was removed, which left Pinga\s post appearing to refer to geofee's post from last year.  Which makes things confusing...

Guessed as much. Shamelessly used presenting opportunity to bump Nike quote to top. Media has been recalling Olympics as a great Canadian 2010 achievement. For me the jury is still out on the matter.

spam reported.