[edshuck]

How will Greece ever survive the debt?

[Ironic]

Originally Posted by edshuck

How will Greece ever survive the debt?

Obdoubtably. They are now a member of the EU and if they go down the gurgler then the who EU suffers. Therefore the EU will bail them out.

[Sparklechick]

NZ sent over quite a large group of athletes to the Olympics at quite a huge cost. A cost that NZ can't really afford.

We haven't done very well at the Olympics so it makes me wonder why we bother sending some of them. For instance our swimmers really are crap. They don't even make the semi's so why send them?

It would be better if we sent people over that are really going to be able to win medals, a smaller Olympic team, than sending everyone (knowing that they probably won't win anything, but could possibly do a personal best).

That way we could use the money for better things, like donating to all those poor farmers who have lost so much during the floods we've just had to endure.

[Penny]

Originally Posted by Sparklechick

NZ sent over quite a large group of athletes to the Olympics at quite a huge cost. A cost that NZ can't really afford.

We haven't done very well at the Olympics so it makes me wonder why we bother sending some of them. For instance our swimmers really are crap. They don't even make the semi's so why send them?

That way we could use the money for better things, like donating to all those poor farmers who have lost so much during the floods we've just had to endure.

Aww don't be too hard on them all. We have never done conisitently well in swimming. There are only one or two swimmers that we have had that have outstanding sucess, Danyon Loader comes to mind. Other than that its not our strong suit.

You are always going to find something else to spend money on, for instance you could say instead of spending money on the floods we have just had, people should be insured, thats the risk they take living in an area that floods, what about spending that money on stopping people beating their wives/children.

There is always going to seem a "better" cause, finding the balance is good. They have still managed to provide funds for the flood victims, and send our athletes to the Olympics. I think is is good for NZ, and makes me proud that we can send such a team over.

[edshuck]

Who has it next?

[Ironic]

Originally Posted by edshuck

Who has it next?

China, Beijing. Evidently the OIC have told them to slow their preparations down...they are on target to being finished June next year!

[spxoobg]

Go the efficient wee chinamen

Even if athletes don't win. They get the experience, then in 4 years time when they aren't so crap(i guess that's the idea) they know what to expect and have a better chance of winnning.

[Sparklechick]

Originally Posted by Penny

Aww don't be too hard on them all. We have never done conisitently well in swimming. There are only one or two swimmers that we have had that have outstanding sucess, Danyon Loader comes to mind. Other than that its not our strong suit.

Exactly. So why send them over at such a high cost? They're never going to win. We should be spending more money on training them to send them to the World Champs (so they know if they're good enough to send to the Olympics). I don't want to sound like I'm down on them but I just think that we put far too much focus (and cost) on the Olympics for such a small country.

[Penny]

I dunno I think it helps our standings and helps to get them better.

Like the basketballers, both our teams, have done well. They may have lost allot of their games. However the girls mad it to the quaters I think, and the boys didn't loose their games by allot. They proved they are up there with the rest of the world and I think that will help the sport develop in our country by gaining respect of the rest of the world for that sport and I've lost track of what I was saying, and started babbling, lol

[edshuck]

Originally Posted by Penny

I dunno I think it helps our standings and helps to get them better.

Like the basketballers, both our teams, have done well. They may have lost allot of their games. However the girls mad it to the quaters I think, and the boys didn't loose their games by allot. They proved they are up there with the rest of the world and I think that will help the sport develop in our country by gaining respect of the rest of the world for that sport and I've lost track of what I was saying, and started babbling, lol

I like the idea of struggle and overcoming adversity.

Then the US runs in a team that is paid to play. Oh, there is the token amature. But next year that amature will turn pro.

The this "olympian" will make 5 to 10 million and even 20 million or more if he is a standout.

To me, that has nothing to do with olympics and everything to do with marketing.

Before I sound absolutely anti US, which I am not, I love the womens Softball. Yes, they have a hugh win streak. But they are not pro. Last olympics, the captain of the team was nicknamed "Dot". When not playing one mean second base (or maybe it was shortstop) and hitting homers, she is a surgeon.

What was the point of the girls vollyball? Maybe one long Speedo ad.

Enough soapbox....down Ed....down.

[Penny]

I like the fact that there are games that are not professional, it takes real commitment & pure guts to work etc, and to train for your sport.

Our Netball & hockey girls are like that. They are teh two that come to mind, they really work hard and the Netballers are the World champs at the moment, and had a great series against the aussies, I think its great, and they all have to go back to their jobs after the game.. (when they aren't getting icked out of clubs for dancing on tables )

[edshuck]

Yes.

Money keeps "weedling" (not a word) into everything we do and perverts the process.

I can appreciate a little table dancing. Not an all togeather bad tradition.