Hosting the Olympic Games would be a wonderful step forward to some or a waste of resources to others according to the responses given to Epoch Times from the Canary Islands to Obala when they asked locals, “Would you be supportive of hosting the Olympics in your city?”
Maria Lozano, 67, Retired (Former History Professor)
No, I wouldn’t. The main reason being that I don’t think we’ve got the minimum infrastructure to cope with an event this huge, neither do I think it would be a great idea to invest all that money for a few weeks unless your city may get a significant return from that investment. That’s why I think that hosting the Olympic Games is a reserved task for a few select cities all over the world. Maybe the Canary Islands would be a good option for being the center for sailing competitions in case Madrid could host the Olympic Games in the future, because we are very experienced with that.
Jessica Carvalho, 18, Student
No, I think what is happening is hypocrisy; a ruler claims to have millions of dollars to host the Olympics, but not to invest in hospitals, schools, roads, etc. The city is horrible and they want to pretend it is a first-world country for a few months. However, the population knows this and pretends to be blind.
Note: Brazil has been awarded the 2016
Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Nga Mayele Jean-Marie, 40, Teacher
The Olympic Games are a nice thing and I would support it in Cameroon for several reasons. First, we Cameroonians like sport, especially football; our team is top class. Second, it’s an opportunity for our country to receive lots of foreigners, which would benefit business people. Third, our government would build many stadiums, develop infrastructure and invest in sport.
David Ndole, 23, student
Yes, I’d support the Olympic Games in our country. The Olympics haven’t been much promoted here and this would encourage more Tanzanians to see and become interested in new games they haven’t seen before.
Peter Georgilopoulos, 49, Physiotherapist
I would be very supportive of having the Olympics in our city; I think it brings great infrastructure to our city. It sets up a great support for establishing a system of sport from very junior to very senior levels. And I think it also sets the city up internationally as well, in terms of where we are able to get our tourist situation increased locally, and have people come to our shores to visit once they’ve seen what we do here at the Olympics Games.
Mauro Bighellini, 61, Theater Company Director (Retired IT employee)
Yes, we normally have different world competitions in the Alpine region. We have the equipment necessary and we are prepared for competition on the ski slope, ski run, ice rink, and many others. For example, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Val Gardena, Borno, Sestriere are places where world ski championships were held, and in Torino the ice skating world competitions. I think Italy can support the Olympics Games very well.
Joanna Hojka, 27, Economist
I would rather be for the Olympics. I don’t know what pluses or minuses would be obvious for such an event, but for sure it would have a positive effect on economic progress - more people would be employed; a bigger infusion of cash for the city’s infrastructure development. I see more positive sides. For example, in 2012 the UEFA European Football Championships will be in Poland, I definitely see more positive aspects connected with the economic progress and tourism in our country.
Roseville, USA
Evan Hartman, 23, Welder, Future Firefighter (retraining due to economic downturn)
No, I deem hosting the Olympics a waste of time, money and effort. The amount of money and manpower that’s necessary to put on this kind of event is, in the end, a complete waste. They usually use taxpayers’ money, and the expenditure isn’t justified, especially in this economy. Instead, I’d like to see the money used to fix roads, or on other civic projects. The facilities built at such huge cost are never fully utilized again. Whatever the financial boost to the local economy is, at best is only temporary.
Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “Do you feel your country would be prepared to cope with a major natural disaster like an earthquake?”
