The Games and other spin, hypocrisies, myths and injustices ....
I'm vehemently against nationalism generally but definitely that which is deliberated commercial generated for the sole point of power and profit. ... I tend towards the comment by Samuel Johnson "patriotism (nationalism) is the last refuge of a scoundrel".
I would argue that the whole thing is so
commercially corrupted and based on so many false assumptions as to be meaningless on nationalistic
, good will,and or honest fair competition... nor are the medals
objectively any more indicative than of prolonged effort
rather than the absolute best... Drugs/ corruption inevitably factor in commercially exploited sport.
I find it impossible to define my identity as the place where I live. Much less by someone else's sporting prowess and even less again by in a Government enforced 2 week marketing fest for those with the deepest pockets, MULTI NATIONAL corporations.( which national interest do they support? )
This sponsorship (sic) although "necessary" (?) has removed the Games from the
Provence of competitor V competitor and made a mockery of the stated national aims of encouraging participation in healthy activities.
However, it makes the case of “who spends the most to hone the skills of the genetically gifted wins. That means we as tax payers and the less well off make the sacrifices.
Further to this it entrenches the commercial impetus to support specific sports and the odd photogenic person for extraordinary wealth. In turn reducing the achievement of the others to that of minor supporting acts.....tissues, used one and discarded. Proof? Ask the average punter who won gold in lessor sports last 'games' and you'll get a blank, they're not in ads. Did the achievement from the lessor sport athletes take less dedication? Training?
The most distressing is the bias in all of this against the poorer nations, gender and the disabled.... What message is government money supporting here?
rather than the absolute best... Drugs/ corruption inevitably factor in commercially exploited sport.
I find it impossible to define my identity as the place where I live. Much less by someone else's sporting prowess and even less again by in a Government enforced 2 week marketing fest for those with the deepest pockets, MULTI NATIONAL corporations.( which national interest do they support? )
This sponsorship (sic) although "necessary" (?) has removed the Games from the
Provence of competitor V competitor and made a mockery of the stated national aims of encouraging participation in healthy activities.
However, it makes the case of “who spends the most to hone the skills of the genetically gifted wins. That means we as tax payers and the less well off make the sacrifices.
Further to this it entrenches the commercial impetus to support specific sports and the odd photogenic person for extraordinary wealth. In turn reducing the achievement of the others to that of minor supporting acts.....tissues, used one and discarded. Proof? Ask the average punter who won gold in lessor sports last 'games' and you'll get a blank, they're not in ads. Did the achievement from the lessor sport athletes take less dedication? Training?
The most distressing is the bias in all of this against the poorer nations, gender and the disabled.... What message is government money supporting here?
Remember too the fact that an oft mentioned
lie becomes urban 'fact' (mythology) which influences people's
emotional response and judgement....priorities (prejudices
and stereotyping). e.g we don't hear of competitors from Togo,
Surinam or Burkina Faso, How many punters can find them on a map ? How many can name ten
countries of the 100 or so that don't compete in the games? Logic dictates that in these 100 or so countries there simply must be a bunch of even more genetically talented athletes. who's game enough to then state categorically there's not? or that there isn't a world beater among them?
Let's also mention the sport based migrations ? If you're a photogenic blond athlete or just a great athlete then come on in but if you're Asian and say a teacher well or a bus driver, fisher person or 'just' a mum good luck and don't die while you wait.
What also ignored is that the lessor countries that do compete are becoming more and more excluded because of the costs involved. Then there is the exclusion of these third world struggling business benefiting from their much needed government's expenditure.
It is utter nonsense to assert that the games actually show the best, that excludes those who simply can't afford to such high training or to compete.
Frankly is has become an entertainment spectacular and as such only serves to make the emotionally nationalistic proud, however it fails any sensible objective test as a social objective of society, and should be user pays like all other discretionary entertainment.
MSM (corporations) whose primary client base is other corporations it doesn't surprise me that they want more money to be put into the training etc. That is apart from conflict/sensation sells if they can't have 'gold' to celebrate then ' someone' is at fault.
It should surprise no one that their answer is more money or force more children to play (exploitable)sport.
The need for all of the above is moot. There are far more people who exercise without exploitable competitions than those who do . We as a population are simply being conditioned into over consuming of food, indulgent comfort, ease of use etc to the point of self destruction and obesity. I fail to see how this should be a government defined ( tax paid) objective....
Another factor often over looked in the 'blame game' and fairness is that the inefficiency of all the paid bureaucrats and even higher paid executives in favoured sports .
Let's also mention the sport based migrations ? If you're a photogenic blond athlete or just a great athlete then come on in but if you're Asian and say a teacher well or a bus driver, fisher person or 'just' a mum good luck and don't die while you wait.
What also ignored is that the lessor countries that do compete are becoming more and more excluded because of the costs involved. Then there is the exclusion of these third world struggling business benefiting from their much needed government's expenditure.
It is utter nonsense to assert that the games actually show the best, that excludes those who simply can't afford to such high training or to compete.
Frankly is has become an entertainment spectacular and as such only serves to make the emotionally nationalistic proud, however it fails any sensible objective test as a social objective of society, and should be user pays like all other discretionary entertainment.
MSM (corporations) whose primary client base is other corporations it doesn't surprise me that they want more money to be put into the training etc. That is apart from conflict/sensation sells if they can't have 'gold' to celebrate then ' someone' is at fault.
It should surprise no one that their answer is more money or force more children to play (exploitable)sport.
The need for all of the above is moot. There are far more people who exercise without exploitable competitions than those who do . We as a population are simply being conditioned into over consuming of food, indulgent comfort, ease of use etc to the point of self destruction and obesity. I fail to see how this should be a government defined ( tax paid) objective....
Another factor often over looked in the 'blame game' and fairness is that the inefficiency of all the paid bureaucrats and even higher paid executives in favoured sports .
By all commercial terms
these Executives are paid to improve the outcome of their sport
and if they don't they should share the fate of say unsuccessful
football executives and coaches. Certainly not behind the scene
conniving for extended terms of employment and reducing costs by commercial means of 'performance only
bonuses' knowing full well all
they achieve is to punish/discourage the triers. As it is the actual athletes fund the greater part of their costs ( save the very very few).
Are you prepared to put your family into debt so that “MULTI National corporations can make fortunes and your family get none of it? Not even reimbursement for expenses out laid much less for the effort/sacrifices?”. And if you're in a lessor sport........?
I have long pointed out that which was shown last night on ABC's "Gruen Sweat" http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/24934 there is a far better uses of national funds than These GAMES.
e.g. They showed that the money on one Athlete who came 7th could have paid for life saving equipment to save many . Are we to assume that the public is willing to sacrifice lives, literacy et al for the chance to make gold? I for one object !
Hand the whole thing to commercial enterprise and let them run it in within the laws of freedom of speech and (heaven forbid) a fairer playing field not demand idiotically preferential laws to protect 'their' assets ( this is clearly selected Corporate welfare.).
Capitalism is based on exploitation and inequality of rewards …..one only needs to look at Australia's Nobel prize winners … name three? Let alone the the CSIRO scientists who invented Wi Fi that is in use in all mobiles today …..name one? Yet the same complaining sports fan is inclined to defund or ignore the CSIRO learned observations. Where was their ticker tape parade? (surely their effort 'beats' that of an entertainer/athlete certainly in actual tangible worth). To be fair Corporation sell the emotion not the facts or proportion See BP's ad (for the Games) on "Gruen Sweat". They emphasise alternative energy ( an extremely minor part of their business I suggest for exploitable PR tokenism) and not a mention of anything the bulk of their less (un) spinable Business. Where's the greater public good in this hypercritical spin that justified government money and laws to protect it?
they achieve is to punish/discourage the triers. As it is the actual athletes fund the greater part of their costs ( save the very very few).
Are you prepared to put your family into debt so that “MULTI National corporations can make fortunes and your family get none of it? Not even reimbursement for expenses out laid much less for the effort/sacrifices?”. And if you're in a lessor sport........?
I have long pointed out that which was shown last night on ABC's "Gruen Sweat" http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/24934 there is a far better uses of national funds than These GAMES.
e.g. They showed that the money on one Athlete who came 7th could have paid for life saving equipment to save many . Are we to assume that the public is willing to sacrifice lives, literacy et al for the chance to make gold? I for one object !
Hand the whole thing to commercial enterprise and let them run it in within the laws of freedom of speech and (heaven forbid) a fairer playing field not demand idiotically preferential laws to protect 'their' assets ( this is clearly selected Corporate welfare.).
Capitalism is based on exploitation and inequality of rewards …..one only needs to look at Australia's Nobel prize winners … name three? Let alone the the CSIRO scientists who invented Wi Fi that is in use in all mobiles today …..name one? Yet the same complaining sports fan is inclined to defund or ignore the CSIRO learned observations. Where was their ticker tape parade? (surely their effort 'beats' that of an entertainer/athlete certainly in actual tangible worth). To be fair Corporation sell the emotion not the facts or proportion See BP's ad (for the Games) on "Gruen Sweat". They emphasise alternative energy ( an extremely minor part of their business I suggest for exploitable PR tokenism) and not a mention of anything the bulk of their less (un) spinable Business. Where's the greater public good in this hypercritical spin that justified government money and laws to protect it?
In short I contend the games as they are, are
discriminatory run to benefit selected corporate interests and as such are the rightful Provence of discretionary
spending therefore totally that of the commercial world.
Not a diversionary Circuses and Bread
(even they
were privately run and funded) by Governments whose only interest alignment is to gain popular (emotional) support rather than anything more difficult i.e. constructive.
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