Tag: olympics

  • The Great Olympic Pissing Contest

    Seems a hiatus is called for again, because the Olympic spam is fast becoming a major annoyance. We assign such significance to these events that we fail to see the simple truth behind it all. Like the FIFA Soccer World Cup, and other similar sporting events hosted on a global stage, it’s nothing but capitalistic ventures cloaked in good old fashioned values of sportsmanship and supposed goodwill.

    Look behind the scenes, as with the current Olympics as well, and you’ll see how many ordinary people and businesses are forcefully marginalised and actively excluded simply because they don’t have as much money to pay for the advertising rights of such events. So what started out as a universal celebration of camaraderie and sportsmanship has turned into a pissing contest, and nothing more. 

    So forgive me if I don’t exactly celebrate the inclusion of marginalised groups and countries in a spectacle that holds no honour or respect any longer. The innocence of the world has been defiled a long time ago.  

  • Ground Breaking Olympian of the Day

    thedailywhat:

    Groundbreaking Olympian of the Day: In a surprise last-minute decision, the South African Olympic committee and national track federation said today that double amputee Oscar Pistorius can run in both the individual 400 meters and the 4×400 relay at the London Olympics. Pistorius, who runs on carbon fiber blades, will be the first amputee track athlete to compete at any games.

    “Today is truly one of the proudest days of my life,” Pistorius said in an official statement. “I am so pleased that years of hard work, determination and sacrifice have all come together.”

    He took to Twitter after the news had a little time to sink in: “Still on cloud 9 but need to keep at what got me here so off to the Gym. Thank you all who shared today with me, I really appreciate it!”

    [ap]