You're an Olympian in Beijing? We tell you how to think

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article3724308.ece

Want to bet Sydney or Athens have been discreetly asked if they can host?

 

Congratulations, Mr. Rogge, for opening the doors to nations boycotting.
You're no better than the Chinese leadership, jackass.

 

Oh, I don't mind this. The Chinese made a promise to the IOC about human rights, they failed it.

 

About the only way these Olympics could be a bigger train wreck is if Max Mosley is chosen to light the torch!

 

I don't remember where I heard it, but Los Angeles is supposedly the stand-by option.
The U.S. is also the backup plan if the wheels fall off the World Cup in South Africa.

 

This whole mess just gets worse by the day.

 

I could see how the World Cup could shift logistically at short notice, since it happens in June and July and our soccer venues (which for the Cup would be large football stadiums) would be free.

But the Olympics? That would be a nightmare that would be tough to work out in three years, not to mention three months. Unless the IOC already has venues booked just in case.

 

I'd assume there's a short list of cities that could host on a few months notice. It's the prudent thing to do, in case of civil unrest, war, natural disaster, etc.
Off the top of my head, Los Angeles (large city, lots of hotel space, past experience hosting, lots of available venues), Athens and Sydney (recent hosts with new venues and experience handling the games) would be logical backup plans.

 

I wondered about Los Angeles myself.

It has many venues for just about anything: basketball, soccer, gymnastics, weightlifting, etc. But where would they hold track and field?

 

At the Coliseum like 1984, no?

 

They renovated a couple of years ago. The seats cover the track area.