Why is attendance so low at the Olympics?

[CatWoman]

is it because of this idiotic "war on terra", or people just don't care?

[IconoclastIlene]

1. People still remember Black September and so forth.

Who needs that kind of excitement; really?

[2Design]

2. Bush has stirred up a hornets nest and they know americans

are now targets...and the price of tickets - like utah - are ridiculous. Who wants to pay 300+ dollars for opening night and who knows what they charge for these other events....

I don't want to be where those mad at Bush may try to make a statement.

[rusty charly]

3. they were

talking about it on AAR
several reasons given:

-in august the greeks go on vacation. they're not going to stay in town in august during vacation time


-it's a small country. the smallest country to host the olympics since finland.

-who wants to risk their life to watch the women's preliminary table tennis?

[wildeyed]

4. Not sure.

But I know that my enjoyment of the olymics has been seriously compromised this year. I don't know if it is because I am so obsessed with the Nov election or just bummed 'cause all the other countries hate us so much. I mean it was good new when the USA athletes didn't get booed at the opening ceremonies.

I was a serious amateur athlete in my 20's, so usually I just live the olymics 'cause I can relate to what the athletes went through to get there. I watch stuff like canoing and cheer the target shooter in addition to watching the prime time stuff. This year has just been no good. :(

[skygazer]

I've wondered too

If it didn't have to do with the questions about whether the venues would be ready. Athens was struggling right up to the last minute to get things completed and I wonder if that had an affect on advance ticket sales.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

5. I think this time around , people just don't care .

People are holding on tight to their money and just staying home ( and not because of the war on Terror I don't think . ) If people wanted to be there , they would be there just as they were at the World Cup in 2002 in Japan and other events . I am anxious to see the attendance for the 2006 Winter Games in Turin , Italy and the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing . ( and also the 2006 World Cup Soccer Final in Germany even though this is not the Olympics )

[DS1]

6. Because it's a gaudy cheesefest designed to make money for the IOC

and hosting country, full of kickbacks and fraud both in selection and judging - and it's crap like that which makes nobody give a shit.

[curse10]

8. tell us how you really feel, DS1

:evilgrin:

[CatWoman]

9. that's part of the problem

he always does :D

[Damn Hippie]

7. Price gouging in Athens

is part of the problem. NPR reported that hotel rooms that were about $200 a night were up to $800, cup of coffee up to $4 from $1 and that the tourism season this summer was the worst in 35 years. (perhaps due to all the last minute construction and all the problems that brings to any city).

[miss_kitty]

10. because it's a pimpfest for coke, nike, addidas and visa

the clothes and shoes are made by people, paid a pittance, whose poverty we could not even imagine.

you can't wear clothes into the venue if they have a competing logo on them. you can't drink pepsi, dr pepper or 7-up in the venues.

and there were all those rumours about venues not going to be finished before the start...

i'd say the greeks are screwed financially

[Zomby Woof]

11. because!

They don't serve my chocolate chip cookies!

[CatWoman]

13. LOL --

looking mighty tasty there, Z

:hi:

[LynneSin]

12. They were upset that Co-Ed Naked Tiddlywinks didn't make it as an olympic

sport???

:shrug:

[Zomby Woof]

14. only matcom is upset at that!

But you promised to make it up to him, right? :o

[greekspeak]

15. Because the US has the world scared shitless of terrattacks

Its not enough to mentally abuse Americans by using fear to control society. It is imperative that the whole world be scared shitless. My what power Terra yeilds! Scare everyone into submission. And how successful! Well, there probably is danger; the hornets nests of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Al-Qaida don't see just the U.S. as the bad guys; they see CHRISTIANS as bad guys. And who can blame them? Shrub told the world that it is Crusade time. The word Crusade does not set well with those of the Islamic faith. So, a lot of those folks now see any Christian country-Greece included-as the bad guys. Shrub 2004: 4 more years of fucking up America and the world with perpetual war.

[SOteric]

16. This past few weeks is a holy time for Greek Orthodox

the vast majority religion of those living and working in Greece.