winter olympic shooters

[redman]

^ Man, you've got it twisted... They're amateur athletes, that's the whole point of the Olympics (although the lines are blurred in some of the Summer events). Their sport is not their full time career; most of these athletes have employment to partially support their chosen activity, but the athletic part of their lives consumes a lot of money and time, so they don't necessarily have as much time to devote to their profession and consequently, they earn less.

The beauty of these events is how small a role politics play; there's nothing to politicise: you showed up, represented your county, competed and won. What more is there? If you got swayed by politicians who turned out to be less than stellar, why blame the athletes or the spirit of the event?

 

[Gnomon]

It IS a political issue!

You think the young athletes who've been training for years think it's a political issue? No, you and the politicians are the ones making it a political issue.

And all because we're supposed to get a warm fuzzy if our guys are 1/100th of a second faster than the other guys.
f**k the Olympics, f**k the athletes (try getting a job that doesn't require the taxpayer to support you), and f**k Gordon Campbell and his entire gov't.

Yes, I think you should feel proud if our guys are faster than the other guys. I'm sorry to hear you're having difficulty finding employment, but there's no need to be jealous of the athletes. I think if they're able to compete in the Olympics, they probably worked pretty hard to get there.

And, of course, let's not forget that this whole discussion came up around our Olympic shooters. Perhaps shooting sports aren't important to you - maybe they're too frivolous for your ascetic lifestyle?

Rob

 

[stevebc]

You think the young athletes who've been training for years think it's a political issue? No, you and the politicians are the ones making it a political issue.

Regardless of what the athletes think, it remains a political issue for the reason I gave. You haven't refuted it.

Yes, I think you should feel proud if our guys are faster than the other guys. I'm sorry to hear you're having difficulty finding employment, but there's no need to be jealous of the athletes. I think if they're able to compete in the Olympics, they probably worked pretty hard to get there.

I have a full time job. I'll need it (and so will my kids) to pay for this mess.

And, of course, let's not forget that this whole discussion came up around our Olympic shooters. Perhaps shooting sports aren't important to you - maybe they're too frivolous for your ascetic lifestyle?

I've been shooting (off and on) for 40 years. If by ascetic you mean living simply, within my means, then I'm guilty as charged.

Look, all I'm trying to get across to you is that regardless of what you believe, there are many, many BC'ers who aren't at all happy about the 2010 Olympics, and do not support them. In spite of that, we fear we will be held financially responsible long after the warm fuzzy fades away. You, on the other hand, living in Ontario, will not.
Remember Montreal?

 

[bwery]

Keep in mind that these athletes that some are saying "Fu-Q" to represent our entire country on a world stage and these games will represent who we are on a world stage. It is costing a crap load of money now yes but majority of times the revenue brought in from the games pays for everything with the added bonus of the hosting area being left with world class, olympic quality structures for the residences. Countries world wide would not compete for the games if all it did was leave a big whole in the economy.

Back on topic, is it possible to actually buy the ammuntion and have it sent? or send money to the bullet manufacturer which in turn credits the athlete? that way no money can be funneled anywhere else and the needed items which are already purchased will make it to the athletes.

 

[bbartsch]

And all because we're supposed to get a warm fuzzy if our guys are 1/100th of a second faster than the other guys.
f**k the Olympics, f**k the athletes (try getting a job that doesn't require the taxpayer to support you), and f**k Gordon Campbell and his entire gov't.

LOL! Don't hold back, tell us how you really feel. Look I agree that not everyone agrees with our elected officials at some point in time, but what does that have to do with supporting the athletes in this case? These athletes have devoted a large portion of their lives to being the best in the world and representing our country, they deserve our support for what little is required of us. This has parallels to Afghanistan as well. A person doesn't necessarily have to like us being there, but don't you agree we should support the troops a 100%. Same principle. You don't have to like the politics of it, but what does that have to do with the athletes? If these Olympics were being held in Switzerland for instance, would you have the same opinion towards them? I get that you're upset about the costs involved but why punish those that are trying to represent us honorably?

 

[Gnomon]

Regardless of what the athletes think, it remains a political issue for the reason I gave. You haven't refuted it.

I give up. You're right; let's all boycott the Olympics and let the whole world know how little national pride we have.

And those athletes; who cares if they've been training early every morning, after school and on weekends - that's their problem for being so naive as to think anyone gives a crap.

Rob

 

[m39a2]

Oddly enough, sent off an email to our female bi-atholon team suggesting that if they could travel to Edmonton to shoot one of our matches, gets lots of media attention (I know personaly many local TV and Radio personalities) we would donate the match fees for that match and perhaps take up some donations from our shooters. My email to date, remains unanswered. Perhaps they don't need our money after all!

Scott

 

[stevebc]

I give up. You're right; let's all boycott the Olympics and let the whole world know how little national pride we have.

And those athletes; who cares if they've been training early every morning, after school and on weekends - that's their problem for being so naive as to think anyone gives a crap.

Rob

Just how much money are you, personally, willing to pay for your exhibition of national pride? Whatever the amount is, please send it to BC, we're going to need every penny. And why exactly should I support or even care about anyone's athletes? They chose that life, let them support themselves. I choose shooting as a sport, and I fund it on my own.

 

[stevebc]

These athletes have devoted a large portion of their lives to being the best in the world and representing our country, they deserve our support for what little is required of us. This has parallels to Afghanistan as well. A person doesn't necessarily have to like us being there, but don't you agree we should support the troops a 100%. Same principle. You don't have to like the politics of it, but what does that have to do with the athletes?

Are you actually comparing Olympic athletes to our soldiers? You think our soldiers are there to represent us? I get what you're trying to say, but that's a lousy parallel, imho.
Now if you suggested we cancel the Games and spend all that money on our troops, I'd support that 100%.

 

[Can-down]

Are you actually comparing Olympic athletes to our soldiers? You think our soldiers are there to represent us? I get what you're trying to say, but that's a lousy parallel, imho.
Now if you suggested we cancel the Games and spend all that money on our troops, I'd support that 100%.

I'd say part of a Canadian Soldiers job is to represent Canada.
We should be proud of our soldiers and our amateur athletes.

Let's wait till the party's over then ##### about the costs.....why waste time and energy #####ing about the party till all the costs are known?

The NDP critics say it costs X and the BC Liberals claim Y while Vanoc maintains Z but the real cost will likely be a blended rate with things like pride and tourism being somewhat hard to quantify.

Pretty sure the sun will continue to rise after the Olympics ,and the govt will come up with a new way to spend our money.

 

[Gnomon]

Just how much money are you, personally, willing to pay for your exhibition of national pride? Whatever the amount is, please send it to BC, we're going to need every penny.

Sure, and while we're being ridiculous, you can send your payment to Toronto to pay for the Pan American games in 2015. Please stop crying, you're starting to sound like an American.

Rob

 

[Can-down]

It's interesting to see the "anti" attitudes that surface when people are indifferent or not involved in an activity or event.

Kind of reminds me of gun issues...

 

[can14]

Since we are already paying for the winter olympics and will be paying for the pan am games. Consider this: we are going to have a lot of nice ice surfaces in thr GVRD for kids to play hockey on, which we would have never got any other way. My kids still play hockey and they are in their 20's. You can't put a price on opportunity for kids to play hockey, skating, sking, and snow boarding. It does come at a very big price.