Olympic Games
are destructive


Sportswriter Dave Zirin speaks in Vancouver
Acclaimed Sports Illustrated and The Nation sportswriter Dave Zirin was in Vancouver from Jan 20-21 2010 to speak about activism, sports and the Olympics as part of a series entitled "Politics in the Ring."
Zirin talked about the idea of activist athletes, what they've fought for, and what they've opposed. From feminist uprisings against wearing corsets in tennis, to Muhammad Ali's activist conversion after his Olympic win, Zirin showed that sports has the power to extend beyond just spectacle.
Versed in the history of sports, Zirin was critical of the hypocritical stance the International Olympic Committee has taken on several issues over the past century.

The corporate games
that are being inflicted on us
are destructive
http://www.livableregion.ca/blog/blogs/index.php/2010/01/08/wed_jan_20_david_zirin_politics_in_the_r
not only because of the destructive infrastructure (the $800 million Sea to Sky highway to Sea to Sky freeway conversion) and misdirected infrastructure (Canada Line Subway to floodplain and airplanes). And the Greenwash (more on that later). But also because of the elitist message it sends about sport and physical activity: get the gold or stay home in front of the telly.
What happened to doing your best and having fun? Gone. Fourth place is now for losers.
Healthy activity? Gone. 'They don't need to make skiing safer, the surgeons need to get better at putting our knees back together' (not a direct quote, but close, from some dysfunctional Canadian skier with a blown knee on CBC).
School sports and recreation? Sorry. We have to pay for all the security costs and freeways. You can watch people participating on TV kids, if your mom has enough money to pay the power bill.

All out against the 2010 winter olympic games
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoLQ6ThezTk
http://informedvote.ca/2009/11/09/vancouver-2010-winter-olympics-protest-riot-2010/