Conference 7.286::sports_90

    Glad to hear that the Olympics will be in the US again, but I would
    have bet the farm on Athens getting the nod...
    
    
    py

You can buy anything if you pump in enough money.

I hope Ted Turner doesn't turn these games into the fiasco he made
out of the Goodwill games....

'Saw

    re: 'Saw
    
    Ted Turner has absolutely NOTHING to do with the AOC.  NOTHING.  The
    committee went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure of that.
    
    As to your comments that Atlanta "bought" the Olympics, I'd like to
    know what facts you're basing that opinion on.  Exactly who did the
    "buying", and who was "bought"?  (Practically every member of the
    Olympic committee is extraordinarily wealthy.  It's virtually a
    requirement to become one of the 87 members.)
    
    Finally, in an ideal world where no such "buying" of votes takes place,
    where would the Olympics take place?  Athens?  Their country is in
    political turmoil and their airport is one of the most dangerous in the
    world.  Toronto?  A good portion of their citizens didn't even want
    them.  Melbourne?  A good choice, but they had an Olympics recently I
    fail to see where they have a large qualitative edge over Atlanta.
    
    Atlanta won because of an extraordinary effort by the AOC.  They
    solicited help from key people (Andrew Young and his international
    reputation was *crucial*, among others) and had the entire community
    behind them.  They did the best job of selling the idea that Atlanta
    will be a worthy city to carry on the Olympic ideal for 4 years, and
    *that* is what the Olympic committee is most concerned with.
    
    
    - ACC Chris
    

    According to the BBC - not generally given to hyperbole - Mr Turner
    made some rather juicy offers relating to CNN rights.
    
    
    Peter

    Soup's right that Ted Turner was not involved.  The Atlanta Olympic
    Committee was a group of private citizens that worked extremely hard to
    secure the Games without Turner's direct influence.
    
    But there was some "buying" of this Olympic bid.  Nothing illegal, mind
    you.  But the Atlanta group lavishly wined and dined the IOC members
    when they visited Atlanta.  Limos wherever they went, huge dinners,
    private jets, the whole works. There were no bribes, no kickbacks, no
    under-the-table payments.  Just a huge overdose of Southern
    hospitality, apparently.
    
    Now, for the *real* reason why Atlanta got the bid.   In my opinion,
    television rights were the reason.   American television networks spend
    far and away the most money for broadcast rights.  And, if you think
    about it, the last Olympics that were held in a North American time
    zone was Calgary in Winter 1988.    Summer 1988 was in Korea, Winter
    1992 is in France, Summer 1992 is in Spain, and Winter 1994 is in
    Norway.
    
    If Atlanta did *not* get the 1996 bid, that would have meant *AT LEAST*
    ten whole years between Olympics being held in a North American time
    zone which is ideal for American tube.   The next one up for bid after
    Summer 1996 is Winter 1988.  Salt Lake City is up for that one, I
    think.
    
    So, I don't think the IOC wanted to go 10 years without a Games being
    held in North America somewhere.  Otherwise, the offers from the
    networks might have been reduced.
    
    For what it's worth, I think Melbourne or Toronto would have made fine
    choices, too.  Athens was the sentimental choice but too risky.  
    Perhaps Greece should reconsider some of its lax policies regarding
    terrorists.
    
    Bob Hunt

    If you want to call "rolling out the red carpet" a bribe, then yes,
    Atlanta did bribe the Olympic officials.  So did every other city in
    the running, I'll quickly add.  
    
    FWIW the networks announced several days before the announcement that
    their "preferred" site was Toronto.  And while Coke, the #1 Olympic
    sponsor, would seem to have a vested interest in having them in their
    corporate backyard, they announced *months* ago that they were taking a
    neutral stance to the selection process.  They're far too international
    to do otherwise.
    
    
    - ACC Chris

    Everyone wines and dines the IOC.  Everyone.  Atlanta isn't guilty of
    anything here.
    
    Melbourne's Olympics were in 1956 which was 40 years before 1996.  It's
    hardly what I'd call recent.  The United States hosted its last
    Olympics in 1984, which was 12 years before 1996.  I believe the
    biggest thing working against Melbourne was the relative lack of US TV
    money to be had instead of having it in the Eastern Time Zone in prime
    time.  Both Atlanta and Toronto would have been equally worthy based on
    this.
    
    This entire discussion should be in 302 anyway.
    
    John

    Re Athens
    
    That's ok.  Athens is only about an hour drive from Atlanta...
    
    John

I heard on the radio that Atlanta sunk over $7 million dollars into
getting the Olympics. 

I was remiss in assuming that Ted Turner had something to do with
that, but considering his involvement with the Goodwill Games, and
the fact that Ted Turner :== Atlanta, one could easily draw the
same conclusion.

I just couldn't understand a city making a $7 million dollar gamble
for what might have been a losing proposition, when $7 million dollars
would go a long way towards shelters for homeless people, food for
hungry people, and the new statue that will surely be erected
after Jerry Glanville is canonized 8^)

I don't mind Atlanta winning, it just sounds like they bought it
is all...

(It is good to hear that Turner doesn't have anything to do with it)

'Saw

    Money and networks are only part of the story. Facilities and networks
    played a large part in the decision. Atlanta has one of the (if not
    THE) best airports in the world, a brand new rail system, top notch
    communications networks,an excellent interstate highway system, and the
    hotel/entertainment network of one ofthe largest convention cities in
    the world.
    
    In addition, Atlanta is a
    new city with lots of glitz and glitter mixed with old style graceful
    living. It is a city that welcomes visitors (even Yankees) and enjoys
    serious partying. It also has a large number of colleges with things
    like dormitories, football/baseball/basketball/tennis facilities, and
    cafeterias, etc. to house the world's athletes. It is also about to
    build a new domed stadium.
    
    In short, Atlanta has all the right ingredients to do an excellent job
    with the Olympics. I'm not saying other cities (at least Toronto and
    Melbourne) don't, but Atlanta certainly deserved the bid.
    
    The fact that my parents live 30 miles from downtown has nothing to do
    with my opinions. :^)
    
    Chris

    A $7 million dollar investment (from private funds no less) is
    extremely small potatoes when you're talking about the *billions* of
    potential dollars that will come to Atlanta.  And that's just the
    tangible stuff.  
    
    One thing I did enjoy hearing was Andy Young after the announcement. 
    His first thoughts were that he'd like to see an Atlantan win a gold
    medal in '96.  What he's getting at is an attempt to infranchise the
    local community.  Make them feel a part of it all, and to try and allow
    them to benefit so they can break from the grips of poverty.  
    
    
    - ACC Chris

    ACC Chris, why do you call Greece's political system in turmoil ? 
    please back your statement with facts.
    
    in regards to the terrorist activity when was the last terrorist act
    commited in Greece ?  If I am not mistaken the bombing of the PANAM jet
    a few years ago originated in W. Germany as did the bombing of the "La
    Belle" nightclub which led to the bombing of Libya.  Is W. Germany then
    considered dangerous ?  The IRA has killed people in the Netherlands,
    are the Netherlands considered dangerous ?
    
    Please offer facts to back your claims.
    
    John "D Cowboys" R.

    As our media put it here (in Europe - all of europe, that is, not just
    Greece), the whole thing is nothing but a scandal. The Olympic idea was
    dead, now it is officially dead-dead. A Coca-Cola and CNN (the cheap
    fast food of the media) headquarters face-less <what's it's name>-city
    defeated the cradle of the olymic idea (and the occidental culture),
    you can't demonstrate more clearly what is going on in sports (and
    culture in general). Next Olymipcs: McDonalds vs. Burger King in
    another of those hubs of the universe.
    
    R.
    

    Thank you, Rainer.
    
    
    Suggest all future Olympics be 
    
    1) In the USA
    
    2) Organized by Colonel Saunders or similar.
    
    
    I wonder if the IOC turned a blind eye to such trivial issues as crime
    rates in major US cities while raising pious hands in horror at all
    this terrible bombing going on in anarchy-riddled Athens. You might
    like to go back and ask yourselves how LA with its pollution, roaming
    gangs, etc, got the Games?
    
    Come off it, lads. Atlanta=$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
    
    Athens (a place I personally hate) would probably have made a good
    venue. The pollution is no worse than NYC; a bit of cash injection into
    the Greek economy would have done no harm; the cost to improve the
    infrastructure would have been minimal; and most of the athletes
    would have been better off reading Plato's Republic than watching
    repeats of I Love Lucy on CNN.
    
    Yet more evidence of the growing gulf between the developed and the
    third world. 
    
    Peter
    

    
    
    Why is everybody complaining...who cares where the games are held all
    that should matter is that the quality of competion is fair to all
    athelets.

    Preliminary dates for 96 have been set at 7/20-8/4. It's gonna be a hot
    time in the Old South!
    
    Chris

Rainer --

The one thing I'll take exception to is your characterization of CNN.

I find CNN to be a fairly decent news network, with depth when needed.
Most of our government, military and intelligence agencies are always
monitoring CNN.

Ture, it is on all the time, but that's a great convenience.  When
I watch CNN I learn a lot about all parts of the world.


Personally, at this point I don't much care where the games are held...

's\aw

    Yes, Saw, must be good, Saddam watches it!
    
    
    Peter

'S\aw/,

I had CNN in my hotel room a few weeks ago and couldn't believe how in depth
the coverage was - they had every detail about the Gulf crisis, etc..

Since I was in Tel Aviv at the time, it was kind of nice to get good quality
info!!

There was a newscastress (newsperson, whatever) from Atlanta who was cross-eyed.
She was a bit too much - otherwise, they were great!

\ri/ck/

>    ACC Chris, why do you call Greece's political system in turmoil ? 
>    please back your statement with facts.
    
Read two (2) short stories in todays paper that answer this.

Story #1:	(direct reprint from Kathimerini (Athens, Greece)

		"What occurred is now clear.  The "advantages" of Athens
		proved to be few besides the "advantages" of Atlanta, USA.
		In the wings there was pressure from the interests of
		television networks, the opinions which shape the 
		international media, the pressures ofthe multinational
		corporations.

		On the other hand, exaggerated references to weaknesses
		of the Greek capital (by rivals) appear to have been
		heeded..."

Story #2:	"In Athens, crowds that had gathered expecting to celebrate
		slowly dissolved to face a city decked with flags but
		plagued by power blackouts and chaotic traffic brought on
		my more than a week of strikes to protest the conservative
		government's austerity measures."


- ACC Chris

    Well, I'm saddened.  Despite the 'turmoil' in Athens, I'd have liked
    for tradition to win out, and not mega bucks.   Certain Americans
    in here have been quick to point out the bad things about Athens.
     Well folks, wake up and smell the coffee, 'cuz Atlanta isn't exactly
    trouble-free.   IN a city with a high homeless rate, drugs/crime
    rates are high, and a color barrier is still in existence, the Olympic
    spirit will be gobbled up, like in LA, by corporate sponsers.  
    
    If it is hot and humid in Atlanta, outdoor sports will suffer,
    especially track and field. 
    
    So, Atlanta isn't perfect - just like Athens isn't perfect.  And
    Chris, I'm sure the articles used by the 'local' paper were chosen
    because they fit in with 'Athens' bashing.
    
    Anyway, this will probably kill Salt Lake City's chance at the 1998
    winter games.  It does make it 'easier' to procure tickets - well,
    I should say, 'cheaper' to procure tickets.  The track and field
    tour to the Barcelona games costs mucho bucks.  THe Atlanta tour
    will hopefully cost less.
    
    JD

Re: CNN

This network has carved out a very important and well-deserved niche for
itself.   It is almost always the first network to report on an event and
its accuracy is almost never questioned.  

Because it is virtually immune to ratings pressures, I also find it to be
the least politically slanted of the news networks.   You get facts, first
and accurate.   Okay, sure, you get a lot of Turner commercials but when it
comes time to deliver the news, you get the news with almost no slant at
all.

It is no wonder to me that the White House, the CIA, the NSA, and the FBI
each monitor CNN around the clock.

This network, in my opinion, is the jewel in Turner's crown.  TBS and TNT
are entertainment vehicles.  CNN is a much-needed and desired service.

Bob Hunt

>     Well folks, wake up and smell the coffee, 'cuz Atlanta isn't exactly
>    trouble-free.   IN a city with a high homeless rate, drugs/crime
>    rates are high, and a color barrier is still in existence,
    
    You just described every major city in the US, not just Atlanta. 
    That's a shame.  
    
    JD, I hope you werent' implying that the south is the only place where
    racism is a problem.  If so, you better wake up and smell the coffee
    too.
    
    	--dan'l
    

       I am not sure how much you know about Greece Chris, but the
    Kathemerini is a socialsist newspaper while the government of
    Greece is right wing.  The Soviet TV used to show soup lines 
    and homeless people in the US and said that that is what the US
    is all about.  Is that a fair enough analogy ?
    
       BTW, there are strikes in the UK, France, Italy, and W. Germany
    does that make them unstable ?  please be more objective in making
    comments about a country of which you know only what you read in
    the paper.  We all know how accurate the press is.
    
    John "D Cowboys" R.

    Dan'l,
    
    I know all cities have those problems, and I wasn't saying Atlanta
    was the only with a racial problem.  What I was saying was I was
    sick of hearing about all the problems Athens has, while folks acted
    like Atlanta was perfect. That's all.
    
    The Athens 'bashing' had 'Ugly American' written all over it.
    
    JD

Athens, GA is a pretty nice place, also.

TTom

    
    CNN isn't bad, but TNT is tops with "Bugs Bunny & Friends".
    

"Overture, hit the lights, 
 this is it, our night of nights,
 no more rehearsing, or nursing our parts,
 we know every part by heart..."

(Can't remember the rest of it...)

    Overture, curb the lights
    This is it, we'll hit the heights
    And oh what heights we'll hit
    On with the show this is it
    
    (and then after they dance across the TV)
    
    Tonight what heights we'll hit
    On with the show this is it.
    
    You can take your Disney characters, the Muppets and the Teenage Mutant
    Ninja Turtles, but for my money, the Warner Brothers cartoons starring
    Bugs Bunny and company are the finest ever made.  
    
    John

    
>    You can take your Disney characters, the Muppets and the Teenage Mutant
>    Ninja Turtles, but for my money, the Warner Brothers cartoons starring
>    Bugs Bunny and company are the finest ever made.  
 
 Agreed Daffy was always my favorite and now Steven Spileberg is running his
 own spinoff (sort of like muppet babies) called Tiny Toons. All the characters
 resemble the orginal Looney Toon characters and I believe the old characters
 make quest appearences. Haven't had a chance to watch it yet but have seen
 ads and put the show on for my daughter this morning cause she told me it
 was her favorite new show. And of course she always watches buggs and the gang
 on TNT....

 warms my heart...

mike

    Re: CNN  I don't like the way Fred Hickman refers to home runs these
    days as the "Big Fly".  Sounds forced and contrived.  No wonder I'd
    rather watch SportCenter.  But CNN has been a great benefit when I've
    been overseas.
    
    Dan

    Here's an interesting tidbit for all you anti-Atlanta bigots who think we
    bought the games.  (Take a deep breath and prepare to obfuscate ...)
    
    "ATLANTA SPENT LESS MONEY THAN ANY OTHER CITY BIDDING FOR THE
    GAMES."
    
    And that's a fact, jack.
    
    
    - ACC Chris