Wrestling dropped from the Olympics

Istanbul would have to seriously upgrade its infrastructure to handle the tourism and commercial stress the Olympics would add. Not only that, the government would have to find a good location not too far from the Ataturk airport in a situation where Istanbul is immensely cramped already and property/rental prices and living costs are at a level to cause widespread complaints from its residents.

On the other hand, Dubai has three major road arteries that run parallel to each other and two of which pass right by the aforementioned Dubai Sports City, which is still under construction and where many of the required facilities for the Olympics are already in place. Not to mention that Dubai International Airport and the Maktoum Airport (logistics hub) can easily absorb the extra capacity the Olympics would require, whereas Ataturk Airport is facing capacity issues at the moment..

Add the fact that this place has expansive areas for further development of sports facilities, a large sector of the economy is geared towards tourism, there are stupid amounts of construction and logistics companies here, and Dubai really needs another "big one" after completing the world's tallest building during its own recession, and you have the reasons why doing the Olympics in Dubai would be easier.

Unfortunately, Dubai has nothing on Istanbul when it comes to history, beauty, gastronomy and surrounding nature to take a trip into.

 

I recognize all of that, I just think Dubai gets enough attention and money thrown at it. Maybe spread some love.

That said, if everyone knows how cool Istanbul is, it will fill with even more tourists and then it won't be nearly as much fun to visit.

 

disclaimer: I have a vested interest in Dubai getting the olympics in 2024. i bought an apartment in Dubai Sport City that is still incomplete and has me in negative equity because of the DXB economic collapse in 2008. Its most likely going to be completed late 2013, 5 years later than it should have. If Istanbul wins, i'd have grave concerns about my investment ever bouncing back. If DXB does win the rights to hold the 2024 olympics, i may actually come out even.

i agree on that. Im sure they've thought through their bid well enough. The olympics are all about TV ratings, timezones and seasons. How does that work for and against Istanbul and the rest of its competitors?

seeing that barcelona held the olympics not that long ago, i'd be hard pressed to see it going to Madrid. Timezone wise, tokyo is 14hrs ahead of the US east coast, so that may pose an issue. Istanbul is in with a reallllly g0od chance i rekon.

 

I think my first reaction to this news was, "Wrestling was still an Olympic sport?"

I don't get a lot of the choices that the IOC makes as to what is and is not a sport worthy of Olympic status. I guess wrestling makes more sense than golf, climbing, squash, or wakeboarding. I have no problem with baseball or rugby, though, or any martial arts. Then again, I would probably also get rid of luge, bobsledding, equestrian events, curling, shotput, ping pong, canoe/kayak, cycling, handball, badminton, cross-country skiing, synchronized swimming, and water polo.

I wouldn't get rid of wrestling. Then again, I can't say I'm really mourning it, either. It seems like a poor choice to junk it, but clearly, what do I know: a lot of the games seem like poor choices to me.

 

I'm really looking at how many nations compete in one sport or how diverse the field is. With that said, Luge/Bobsled, curling, canoe/kayak, or water polo would be my choices to stay, cross country skiing, handball and equestian would be in the middle because I don't know enough about them to form an opinion. shot put.... throwing a rock, I'd throw it into track and field and lose it there.... ping pong... sorry to be prejudice but thats a clear asian only sport.... cycling.... never been into it..... badminton... same with ping pong..... synchronized swimming.... its the only one I could clearly say that it needs to go.

 

synchronised swimming stays in my book. Its the only time i can oogle at two dozen set of legs without my mrs slapping me across the head. same as beach volleyball. That stays.

 

I would, I think, have liked to have seen another dropped sporting event - the horse long jump. I suppose the closest I would get to seeing that now, would be to throw a box of '100% Beefburgers' from one end of the local supermarket to the other.

 

streak_56, shotput is already a track and field event. It's even part of the decathlon and the heptathlon.

There is a big difference between the Winter Games and the Summer Games. The Summer Games have about 40% more events than the winter, so I don't see a reason to pare back any of the Winter events, especially ones that are insanely popular in Europe, which is the economy that floats the Winter Games.

 

Of course beach volleyball stays! Ah, beach volleyball, the sport they should really call Competitive Toned Ass Workout.... But beach volleyball plus figure skating plus gymnastics obviate the need for synchronized swimming as leg-and-butt display.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^this can't be said enough