Big Guy Posted March 8, 2014 Report Posted March 8, 2014 Russia is supposed to be the pariah of the world, yet the games go on; Participating nations Forty-five National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) have athletes are competing at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi. This is one more that were represented at the 2010 Winter Paralympics. Andorra (1) Argentina (3) Armenia (1) Australia (9) Austria (13) Belarus (10) Belgium (2) Bosnia and Herzegovina (2) Brazil (2) Bulgaria (2) Canada (54) Chile (2) China (10) Croatia (2) Czech Republic (18) Denmark (2) Finland (13) France (14) Germany (13) Great Britain (12) Greece (1) Iceland (2) Iran (1) Italy (34) Japan (20) Kazakhstan (5) Mexico (1) Mongolia (1) Netherlands (7) New Zealand (3) Norway (31) Poland (8) Romania (1) Russia (68) Serbia (1) Slovakia (16) Slovenia (1) South Korea (27) Spain (7) Sweden (22) Switzerland (8) Turkey (2) Ukraine (23) United States (74) Uzbekistan (2) WHY? Quote Note - For those expecting a response from Big Guy: I generally do not read or respond to posts longer then 300 words nor to parsed comments.
TimG Posted March 8, 2014 Report Posted March 8, 2014 (edited) WHY?Because hundreds of athletes have invested sweat and money into preparing for the biggest global event available. The people involved don't give a damn about international politics - they just want to compete and (hopefully) win a few medals. Edited March 8, 2014 by TimG Quote
WestCoastRunner Posted March 8, 2014 Report Posted March 8, 2014 Because each and every athlete deserves to be there. It has nothing to do with politics. Quote I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass. - Maya Angelou
dre Posted March 8, 2014 Report Posted March 8, 2014 Russia is supposed to be the pariah of the world, yet the games go on; Participating nations Forty-five National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) have athletes are competing at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi. This is one more that were represented at the 2010 Winter Paralympics. Andorra (1) Argentina (3) Armenia (1) Australia (9) Austria (13) Belarus (10) Belgium (2) Bosnia and Herzegovina (2) Brazil (2) Bulgaria (2) Canada (54) Chile (2) China (10) Croatia (2) Czech Republic (18) Denmark (2) Finland (13) France (14) Germany (13) Great Britain (12) Greece (1) Iceland (2) Iran (1) Italy (34) Japan (20) Kazakhstan (5) Mexico (1) Mongolia (1) Netherlands (7) New Zealand (3) Norway (31) Poland (8) Romania (1) Russia (68) Serbia (1) Slovakia (16) Slovenia (1) South Korea (27) Spain (7) Sweden (22) Switzerland (8) Turkey (2) Ukraine (23) United States (74) Uzbekistan (2) WHY? If the atheletes choose to boycott the games, then thats their choice. But for some scumbag politician who couldnt even jog a mile without having a hard attack to decide all their training has been for nothing and they arent allowed to go, would be a pathetic farce. Quote I question things because I am human. And call no one my father who's no closer than a stranger
-TSS- Posted March 9, 2014 Report Posted March 9, 2014 I think the experiences from the 80's of the olympic boycotts have shown how unproductive such measures are and hopefully never be used again. Quote
jbg Posted March 9, 2014 Report Posted March 9, 2014 I think the experiences from the 80's of the olympic boycotts have shown how unproductive such measures are and hopefully never be used again. Boycotts are unproductive. There are better choices for siting the games though. Quote Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone." Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds. Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location? The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).
Boges Posted March 10, 2014 Report Posted March 10, 2014 A boycott wouldn't be punishing Russia, it'd punish the Athletes involved. Quote
Wilber Posted March 10, 2014 Report Posted March 10, 2014 I think the experiences from the 80's of the olympic boycotts have shown how unproductive such measures are and hopefully never be used again. Exactly. It was a bad idea then and it is a bad idea now. Quote "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
Boges Posted March 10, 2014 Report Posted March 10, 2014 I think it's a tactic to try and shame the government in power. Stephen Harper is a bad guy!!! He won't stand up to Russia by telling blind cross country skiers and curlers in wheelchairs that they can't go to Sochi. Pretty regrettable behaviour actually. Quote
The_Squid Posted March 10, 2014 Report Posted March 10, 2014 Some countries just shouldn't be awarded these types of events. But it's too late to pull out now. The main games are long over. Perhaps the IOC will take this as a lesson.... But not likely. Quote
jbg Posted March 10, 2014 Report Posted March 10, 2014 Some countries just shouldn't be awarded these types of events. But it's too late to pull out now. The main games are long over. Perhaps the IOC will take this as a lesson.... But not likely.China was Exhibit "A" on that one. For environmental reasons (i.e. the athletes' ability to breathe healthy air) as well as political reasons. Quote Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone." Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds. Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location? The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).
Boges Posted March 10, 2014 Report Posted March 10, 2014 China was Exhibit "A" on that one. For environmental reasons (i.e. the athletes' ability to breathe healthy air) as well as political reasons. Similar to terrorism and horrible hospitality in Sochi, the air quality was a worry of the 2008 games that never really was an issue. I remember athletes embarrassing themselves coming off the plane wearing a face mask. Quote
The_Squid Posted March 10, 2014 Report Posted March 10, 2014 China was Exhibit "A" on that one. For environmental reasons (i.e. the athletes' ability to breathe healthy air) as well as political reasons. I agree completely. The IOC (and supporters) claim that the games change the countries that have them... make them more democratic, human rights, blah blah blah... I just haven't seen any evidence of it. I don't generally bring up the Nazis... but in this topic it is actually relevant. Did the IOC have these same ideals when Nazi Germany was awarded the games? What country wouldn't the IOC go to? Quote
-TSS- Posted March 10, 2014 Report Posted March 10, 2014 Some countries just shouldn't be awarded these types of events. But it's too late to pull out now. The main games are long over. Perhaps the IOC will take this as a lesson.... But not likely. Russia will host the soccer world cup in 2018. It is easily the biggest and most followed sporting event in the world. Easily much bigger than even summer olympics. Quote
The_Squid Posted March 10, 2014 Report Posted March 10, 2014 Russia will host the soccer world cup in 2018. It is easily the biggest and most followed sporting event in the world. Easily much bigger than even summer olympics. I'd say Canada and Finland should team up and boycott the World Cup, but.... well... you know... Quote
Guest Posted March 11, 2014 Report Posted March 11, 2014 I'd say Canada and Finland should team up and boycott the World Cup, but.... well... you know... England will go, but as a protest, we won't play very well and we won't try to win it. Quote
WestCoastRunner Posted March 11, 2014 Report Posted March 11, 2014 The IOC (and supporters) claim that the games change the countries that have them... make them more democratic, human rights, blah blah blah... I just haven't seen any evidence of it. In the years leading up to the olympics in Sochi, Russia has actually improved the rights of the disabled. They still have a long way to go but these olympics I think have put in motion iimprovements for the disabled and raised awareness in Russia. " Last year, a new education law came into effect that gave children the right to study at mainstream schools. At that time, about two-fifths of the approximately 450,000 school-age children with disabilities in Russia attended regular schools. Almost an equal number were deemed "uneducable," while more than one in 10 attended special needs schools far from home. “Now teachers and parents and others, they understand what inclusive education means because five years ago, they didn’t even know… how to include children with disabilities," says Simonova." http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/sochi-paralympics-confronts-russia-s-attitude-towards-disabled-1.2558404 Quote I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass. - Maya Angelou
jbg Posted March 11, 2014 Report Posted March 11, 2014 I agree completely. The IOC (and supporters) claim that the games change the countries that have them... make them more democratic, human rights, blah blah blah... I just haven't seen any evidence of it. I don't generally bring up the Nazis... but in this topic it is actually relevant. Did the IOC have these same ideals when Nazi Germany was awarded the games? What country wouldn't the IOC go to? I am actually not sure if the country was under Wiemar, or Nazi control when the games were awarded. It would have been better if they didn't go there obviously. Quote Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone." Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds. Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location? The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).
The_Squid Posted March 11, 2014 Report Posted March 11, 2014 I am actually not sure if the country was under Wiemar, or Nazi control when the games were awarded. It would have been better if they didn't go there obviously. 1936. Nazis were in power. They were awarded the games 2 years prior to the Nazi regime in power. Quote
jbg Posted March 12, 2014 Report Posted March 12, 2014 1936. Nazis were in power. They were awarded the games 2 years prior to the Nazi regime in power. Obviously I am no lover of the Nazis. But until the bloody events of June 30, 1934 there was some hope that the Nazi movement would move in a more moderate direction. The famous massacre of Nazi moderates that day closed off that possibility. Quote Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone." Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds. Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location? The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).
Wilber Posted March 12, 2014 Report Posted March 12, 2014 I don't want to be an apologist for Putin but the Nazi comparison is neither fair or appropriate. No country except possibly Poland suffered more under the Nazis than the Soviet Union. Over 20 million dead. If I was a Russian and called a Nazi by people who have no clue about what that really meant, I would be pissed to. Quote "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
The_Squid Posted March 12, 2014 Report Posted March 12, 2014 I don't want to be an apologist for Putin but the Nazi comparison is neither fair or appropriate. No country except possibly Poland suffered more under the Nazis than the Soviet Union. Over 20 million dead. If I was a Russian and called a Nazi by people who have no clue about what that really meant, I would be pissed to. I'm talking about the IOC awarding the games to Russia. And looking back at the nazi games. I wasn't comparing Putin. Quote
Wilber Posted March 12, 2014 Report Posted March 12, 2014 (edited) I'm talking about the IOC awarding the games to Russia. And looking back at the nazi games. I wasn't comparing Putin. Understand but the implication is that awarding Russia the games was somehow the equivalent of awarding Germany the 36 games. Edited March 12, 2014 by Wilber Quote "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
The_Squid Posted March 12, 2014 Report Posted March 12, 2014 Understand but the implication is that awarding Russia the games was somehow the equivalent of awarding Germany the 36 games. that's not what I said at all.... Quote
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