Olympic Strike

From ESPN.com

ATHENS, Greece -- Doctors do it. Journalists, too. Lawyers, cab drivers and even priests take part.

Strikes and labor protests in Greece come in just about every fashion. But a new one could be brewing: walkouts during the Summer Games that begin in two weeks.

Ambulance drivers, paramedics and hotel workers all announced "warning" work stoppages to demand Olympic bonuses and other pay hikes. The 11th-hour threats to the government and private employers are clear: Cough up the cash or risk embarrassing strikes during Athens' big moment.

The government is in an awkward spot.

It says it just can't afford any more bills with a runaway Olympic budget that could approach $12 billion. But it also doesn't want to issue emergency decrees that could trample on Greek workers' cherished right to protest.

"The strikes are justified," salesman Skefos Tsoukalis said. "But it's an entirely inappropriate time when we are the center of the world's attention."

With everything i've been hearing, I cannot be the only one who thinks something is going to go horribly wrong at the Olympics this year. Maybe not an explosion, but something's going to go seriously awry, somewhere. I mean, if it goes off without a hitch, i'll eat my foot.

They should fire half the drivers, paramedics and hotel workers involved, and use the remaining money for more security.

I didn''t think things could go from bad to worse. I was wrong.

The extracurricular stuff is the only thing that make the olympics worthwhile to me. Rampant politics and corruption entertains far more than some jackass who can jump high.
I can''t get behind the games at all. To push a child of 3 or 4 years into such a rigorous training schedule for some of these events seems like child abuse to me. Aside from that it seems shady through and through. Unscrupulous competitors trying to get away with using drugs or steriods. Judges with their own agendas. Feh, who needs it.
Curling is good though, but thats for another year.

"Prederick" wrote:

With everything i''ve been hearing, I cannot be the only one who thinks something is going to go horribly wrong at the Olympics this year.

Yup. Sending the Olympics to Athens is sounding more and more like a bad idea with every news report. They just don''t have the cash to pull it off.

Olympic Strike? About damn time someone made another sequel to Jungle Strike.

"Rat Boy" wrote:

Olympic Strike? About damn time someone made another sequel to Jungle Strike.

Wonder if it will be fully 3d, or 2d again?

"Rat Boy" wrote:

Olympic Strike? About damn time someone made another sequel to Jungle Strike.

Rat Boy, you are the wind beneath my wings

"Dr_Awkward" wrote:

The extracurricular stuff is the only thing that make the olympics worthwhile to me. Rampant politics and corruption entertains far more than some jackass who can jump high.
I can''t get behind the games at all. To push a child of 3 or 4 years into such a rigorous training schedule for some of these events seems like child abuse to me. Aside from that it seems shady through and through. Unscrupulous competitors trying to get away with using drugs or steriods. Judges with their own agendas. Feh, who needs it.
Curling is good though, but thats for another year. :)

You forgot to add all the millions in corporate money that flows into the games so that there is advertising to billions around the world to buy thier products, meanwhile most of the ""Olympians"" can''t make a dime because they are supposed to be amatuers.. sounds hypocritical and remarkably similar to our NCAA sports programs.

What''s the benefit of hosting Olympics to countries? I mean, Greece sounds like it will go into deficit for a number of years. I don''t think tourist dollars make up for what they spend?

The benefit is supposedly, the tourist dollars and the big sponsors pouring out the cash in order to slap a bigass ""McDonald''s"" sign smack dab at the finish line, or something to that effect. For Greece this year, yes, it''s been a mixed bag. But nothing short of a titanic explosion will stop this ball from rolling.

Moreover, I was under the understanding that Olympians don''t make that much cash because noone gives two s**ts about the Olympics anymroe as compared to Domestic sports. I mean, for a while back there, I remember Carl Lewis was rolling in it. But Olympians only get to shine, only get to be sponsors for a few months every 4 years. So it''s a small window.

"Mex" wrote:

What''s the benefit of hosting Olympics to countries? I mean, Greece sounds like it will go into deficit for a number of years. I don''t think tourist dollars make up for what they spend?

Theoretically, it''s supposed to be a big benefit to tourism, but studies have shown that it''s usually a net loss. It boosts national pride, though, so maybe that makes it worth it.

"Prederick" wrote:

Moreover, I was under the understanding that Olympians don''t make that much cash because noone gives two s**ts about the Olympics anymroe as compared to Domestic sports.

I think you''re right. They did a former ice skating Olympian and his ice skating wife on ""Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"", and it didn''t look like they were living the high life. Their funding seemed to come from doing ice shows rather than anything Olympics-related.

Since my Parents and Brother live in Greece right now let me tell you what a nightmare it has been and will be for Athens to host the olympics..

BIG MISTAKE. People were right when they said they should have never hosted it and those same people are even more right today.

My Pop was in various protests and commitees trying to stop it but in the end it was all fruitless.. enough corrupt individuals got paid big time to see it through..

it was/is and will be a huge disaster.. man I have stories upon stories of issues.

Damn shame.

Yep, I have a friend who is a Doctor in Athens. He said that almost NO ONE in the ENTIRE city cares about the games, other than to complain about the security checks, traffic, and increased prices on everyday goods. He said that they will be giving away more than 60 % of the tickets to school kids and off duty soldiers to make the stands look full. The vast majority of the city just wants the nightmare to end without a terrorist attack.

IMO, the olympics is a dead idea, for many of the reasons already cited above. Primarilly, almost NO ONE CARES! Secondarily, they are a net loss to the host cities and countries, on top of the inconvenience.

As an aside has anyone seen thet freaking creepy-wierd Philips TV commercial with all of the zombie people shambling into one house in the neighborhood to ""watch the games""? Gives me frigging nightmares.