In 1896, the Olympic Games were born anew from the enthusiasm and dedication of Pierre de Coubertin. These first Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece as a tribute to the Games of old. Athens contained many of the athletic facilities already needed for the events so these first Games were remarkably cheap by today’s standards. However, as the years have passed, Coubertin’s dream of a world connected through sport for the goal of peace has grown almost too large. The Games have become a place for countries to compete and show their athletic prowess. While it is a remarkable opportunity for the athletes to interact and socialize you would be mistaken to think that the pressure to win is anything but maxed out. This is not the Olympics largest problem though. No, that ribbon goes to the unimaginable debt that countries must now go into in order to host the Games.
The Olympics have caused the financial ruin of more than one nation. Often the host country is forced into spending millions that they do not have accumulating huge debt in the process. This is due to many countries not having the athletic facilities needed and having to build a small city in order to facilitate the Games. In the current Games, Rio had to declare a financial emergency so that the Brazilian government could loan them the funds to finish the Olympic village and facilities. However, one would be mistaken if we did not acknowledge that these cities and countries know full well what they are getting themselves into. But this issue brings up an interesting debate, is it worth switching the Games locations every time or would it be more sensible to build one permanent Olympic park in perhaps Athens, Greece or the United States.
To me this makes the most sense for financial reasons and for the future of the Games. I think it would make the grounds more hallowed for athletes knowing they’re competing in the same venue as someone they idolized when they were younger. It would add history to a certain spot and all the emotion, drama and showmanship of the Olympics would have a dedicated home. This route makes the most sense in my mind as the U.S. is one of the few nations who can host the Games and not sink into horrible debt. This was demonstrated by the Los Angeles Games in which the planners and the city managed to use sponsorships and ticket revenue to actually make a profit on the Games. This was partially due to the fact that the sporting arenas were already built and ready for use. The planners only had to build or renovate a few buildings allowing for a hugely successful Games. Had the Russians and others not boycotted it those Games may be remembered as some of the most successful financially ever thrown.
The movement of the Games is good for only the purpose of why it is moved. To include peoples all over the globe and give their nation a chance to host the Games. However, as we have seen in the past the International Olympic Committee is not above bribes and other niceties being used to lure the committee members to vote for a certain city. If all cities are not going to be given a truly fair shot then it seems pointless to move the Games around. Instead a standardized permanent venue eliminates the need to choose a city or country and allows for the focus to just be the Games. It could even be possible to select a different country every year to send officials to run the permanent facility. While that would take much work and many arguments it seems that it could work as a compromise between sharing the Games and everyone not going into debt.
Overall, the Games are a beautiful thing and they represent some of the most important features of humanity. You see people overcome, persevere and beat incredible odds to bring glory to themselves and to their nations. This is what the Games are truly about and this would not be lost by using a permanent facility. Rather, I think it would allow us to fully focus on the human aspect of the Games and less on the political bullshit. Instead of countries gaining debt they may even profit. The Games were not created for the money or for national pride, rather they were designed to bring the world together in peaceful competition. How better to do this than by compromising on a neutral Olympic venue site to be used for centuries as the Games of old did.
