OT: Final Olympic Medal Count/Olympic wrap up

I have mixed feelings. I like the Olympics, so having them every two years instead of every four is nice. But having both Winter and Summer Games in the same year was pretty cool. The Winter Games stoked your appetite for the main course that summer. And you had to wait so long for them that it was really special when they finally came. The build-up for the Games isn't the same now.

As an example, NBC paid $894mil for the rights to air the Beijing games, the IOC's total TV revenue for Beijing was $1.76bil. The next highest contributor was the European Broadcast Union consortium's $443mil fee, BUT it was for BOTH the 2006 Winter Games and 2008 Summer Games.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/olympics_blog/2009/07/numbers-game-io.html

As an additional FYI, NBC agreed to pay $820mil for Vancouver and $1.18bil for London, when they re-signed with the IOC in 2003. Plus, GE(NBC's parent)agreed to be a global sponsor for $200mil as well. WOW.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/sports/olympics/20sandomir.html

Between this and the recent late night debacle among other issues, doesn't it seem like NBC can't get anything right anymore?

From my experience, Montreal is about the most bilingual city I've ever been to. Certainly, English isn't the dominant language, but I'm impressed with how many people there (not everyone, but a large number of people) can easily switch from French to English, and speak both with very good pronunciation. Quebec City on the other hand is definitely more strictly francophone.

how poutine never made it's way south.

Seriously? We're Americans. How can fries covered in gravy and cheese NOT be popular here?

Sincere condolences to you, Blue.

Joannie did a rather lengthy interview with Bob Costas for NBC a day or two after competition. She maintained amazing composure throughout, even laughed a couple times. And she admitted that while she'd been able to hold it together in Vancouver, she expected it would all hit her when she walked into the house back home. How she managed to not break down even while saying that... what a strong person.

Again, sorry about your dad. That's pretty rough.

Every city that bids for the Olympics makes this claim. They build the venues in the crappiest locations and hope the magic of the Games will turn them around. It doesn't happen. Montreal hosted its events in the run-down east side of town. Los Angeles put most of the 1984 events in South Central. Atlanta built the Georgia Dome in the middle of the 'hood. The Olympics didn't do anything for those areas. (And in the case of South Central at least, they didn't do much to relieve racial tension.) London is now building a bunch of stadiums in the East End; I doubt we'll see that area get any better.

Cities bid for the Games because they're an ego trip, and give them a fun two-week party. But in the long run the cost-benefit analysis is dubious.

I dunno. Detroit has a lot of the facilities built up already, a byproduct of having 4 pro sports teams each with their own stadium. The Silverdome will presumably still be standing then as well, they could host huge soccer matches there. The same thing could be said of the Big House.

All of the rowing events can use the Detroit river. The swimming and diving events can be held at Canham. Some of the less popular/obscure events like fencing can be held at a converted Crisler or Yost.

The only things I think Detroit would really have to build are tennis courts and a track/opening/closing ceremonies stadium. Then they just need to clean up the eyesore that is most of Downtown Detroit, create a viable public transportation option, and pray.

Detroit 2020, let's make it happen. The Olympics should be coming back to North America that year...