Friday, October 23, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Hiroshima and Nagasaki as Olympic Co-Hosts
Should the two cities bid be allowed go forward as 'co-hosts' of the Olympics? Can Hiroshima and Nagasaki pull it off or is it just a pipedream?
On the one hand it seems like a great idea. In an age when peace is more and more on the minds of everyone, the two cities have a unique place on the world stage. And as the last bidding war final scenes in Denmark showed, it's not really a city bid as much as a national honor. Presidents and Prime Ministers don't usually fly off to international venues just to help out local cities with their issues.
The idea also has merit in these financially stressed times when one city, no matter how large, may no longer be able to afford to pay the overwhelming cost of such an international event.
There is precedent. Japan and Korea co-hosted the Soccer championships a few years ago and that seemed to work, but with such a large event as the Olympics, there are some basic practical matters that seem to need working out before a bid could be taken seriously.
Where would the openning and closing ceremonies be held, one on each city? That actually sounds fantastic. But how would crowds be moved from their hotels in one city to venues in another?
More problematic would be, where the Olympic village will be? Will there be two? Will the national team atheletes be divided with, say gymnastic atheletes living in one city and track and field participants in a different city? If they live together, how will they get to their venues in the other city? Will there be private high speed trains between cities or will they have to spend tiring hours on buses each way everyday?
Hiroshima and Nagasaki are not 'twin cities' like Tokyo and Yokohama or Osaka and Kobe. There is a sizable distance between them which, unless adequately addressed, would be a show stopper.
I hope they come up with a plan, it would be cool to see it happen, but like some in the IOC, I'm a bit dubious of success.
On the one hand it seems like a great idea. In an age when peace is more and more on the minds of everyone, the two cities have a unique place on the world stage. And as the last bidding war final scenes in Denmark showed, it's not really a city bid as much as a national honor. Presidents and Prime Ministers don't usually fly off to international venues just to help out local cities with their issues.
The idea also has merit in these financially stressed times when one city, no matter how large, may no longer be able to afford to pay the overwhelming cost of such an international event.
There is precedent. Japan and Korea co-hosted the Soccer championships a few years ago and that seemed to work, but with such a large event as the Olympics, there are some basic practical matters that seem to need working out before a bid could be taken seriously.
Where would the openning and closing ceremonies be held, one on each city? That actually sounds fantastic. But how would crowds be moved from their hotels in one city to venues in another?
More problematic would be, where the Olympic village will be? Will there be two? Will the national team atheletes be divided with, say gymnastic atheletes living in one city and track and field participants in a different city? If they live together, how will they get to their venues in the other city? Will there be private high speed trains between cities or will they have to spend tiring hours on buses each way everyday?
Hiroshima and Nagasaki are not 'twin cities' like Tokyo and Yokohama or Osaka and Kobe. There is a sizable distance between them which, unless adequately addressed, would be a show stopper.
I hope they come up with a plan, it would be cool to see it happen, but like some in the IOC, I'm a bit dubious of success.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Dollar Needs Resusitator
The Arab states have launched secret moves together with China,
Russia and France to stop using the US currency for oil trading
The end of dollar dealings for oil with moves to a basket of currencies including the Japanese yen and Chinese yuan, the euro, gold and a new, currency planned for the nations in the Gulf Co-operation Council is being planned.
The dollar will need CPR soon as a result of America's greedy and gluttonous lifestyle. The congress spends money as if it were toilet paper - and soon it will be worth as much.
If the dollar keeps losing value it will soon be uneconomical for Americans to buy foriegn oil. This doesn't really worry people so much beause they think with all the refineries in the US, it won't be a problem to get gas for my car.
Think again!
Russia and France to stop using the US currency for oil trading
The end of dollar dealings for oil with moves to a basket of currencies including the Japanese yen and Chinese yuan, the euro, gold and a new, currency planned for the nations in the Gulf Co-operation Council is being planned.
The dollar will need CPR soon as a result of America's greedy and gluttonous lifestyle. The congress spends money as if it were toilet paper - and soon it will be worth as much.
If the dollar keeps losing value it will soon be uneconomical for Americans to buy foriegn oil. This doesn't really worry people so much beause they think with all the refineries in the US, it won't be a problem to get gas for my car.
Think again!
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