I have a suggestion about the Olympics, Make the Tokyo Games the last one. Yes, I know a lot of people enjoy watching what amounts to a glorified high school track meet but at what cost to the planet?
Modern-day Olympics have nothing to do with the ancient games. Even the Olympic run with the torch was only a relatively recent invention by Nazi Germany to symbolize the glories of ancient Greece being transferred to the Master Race as the natural successor, with the Games held just before the Second World War. I did appreciate the humour of seeing an older woman in Japan spraying one runner carrying the torch with her garden hose, though.
Look, people, do we accept the reality of climate change or not? Think of the environmental costs involved in producing a two-week diversion for the masses to enjoy. Billions spent on facilities that often sit underused or abandoned after the Games are held, like what happened to the Rio (Brazil), Russian, and even Athens (Greece) Games.
All those resources could have gone into saving endangered species and habitats, defending shorelines from rising seas, and so on. No money for that but money for something which in the end is not important in the scheme of things, little more than a circus to keep the masses entertained.
If we accept that climate change is real, and we must, then why are we fine with the dumping of massive amounts of pollution into the atmosphere, with increased air traffic to get people to and from the Olympics? Should we promote frivolous traffic in the skies, which contributes so much of the pollution that is driving climate change? And yes, that includes flying off for holidays on tropical islands which will soon enough be underwater.
Is skateboarding really up to the level of being included in the Games? The ancient Greeks held one race, but now it has devolved into little more than a marketing event for companies to promote their brands. Taxpayers pay for it long after the Games are mostly forgotten about.
I don’t believe the planet can afford these Games, which have nothing to do with the ideals of the ancient Games. They’ve become a glorified cultural appropriation that squanders far too much time, attention, and treasure for little practical return except for fleeting bragging rights of countries, corporations, and a few standout athletes.
I am nothing if not cynical about many of our human foibles and that includes the most under-viewed Olympics in recent history.
We already have championship sporting meets.
That should be enough without putting these Games on.
Robert T. Rock
Mission City, B.C.