Quote:
Originally Posted by octothorp
In terms of how funding can impact medal standings, it seems one of the worst investments is hosting games... I was reading an article before these Olympics started about how host nations do not get any sort of advantage in future Olympics, despite perceived greater attention and facilities. Well, with Greece currently tied with Canada with 0 medals (but only two top eight finishes!), that's certainly playing out this year. I fully expect the same will be true of Whistler. Billions invested in hosting the games will do little for the long-term success of the athletes, compared with a much more modest ongoing investment.
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You know, I distinctly remember Olympic observers and commentators drawing attention to the 1988 Olympic legacy during Canada's fantastic runs at the 1998 games in Nagano, and in the 2002 games in Salt Lake. Hell, even though there were some forgettable moments in 2006, Canada was still among the best performers in the world in Turin.
Before '88, Canada was never a speed-skating superpower, and now we are consistently one of the best in the world at this particular discipline. It's only one example, but I do believe that the tangible impact from hosting an Olympic games is probably not immediately noticeable.