Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Who Else is Sick of the Olympics?

I am ready for the Olympics to be over and done with. Truth be told, I was already sick of them before they started. And though I didn't think it possible, I hate them more each day.
  • I don't care about how many medals Canada has won.
  • I care even less if our hockey team beats the Americans.
  • If figure skating is a sport, then ballet should be in the summer games.
  • Anyone who catapults themselves down a track made of ice at 140km an hour shouldn't be too surprised if they die doing it.
Most of all, I find the amount of money spent on this event to be completely disgusting. My girl Julie Cole had it right 2 years ago. When I think about the cash thrown at the opening ceremonies alone (pegged at over $38 million) I want to invite the entire VANOC committee to go have sex with themselves. The cost of hosting the 2010 Olympics is already coming in at over $2.5 billion dollars (what with having to truck in snow at $1000 a truck from the interior of BC and all). Don't even get me started about the whole Own the Podium fiasco, I might go into orbit.

Families with children with Autism are bankrupting themselves to get their kids the treatment they need just so they can have a semblance of a normal life. Even worse are the kids who will get no treatment because their families don't have resources to deplete to get them crucial ABA treatment between the key ages of 2 and 5 years old. So pardon me if I don't give a shit about the fact that we didn't medal in downhill. Max is a bigger hero in my eyes than any Olympian could ever be. It's time to start valuing what is truly important, and it isn't an event that has essentially turned into yet another mass marketing vehicle for huge companies to pedal their wares. For shame.

14 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:42 p.m.

    Wow, Kat I had never thought of the Olympics that way. At first I thought you were just rambling drivel. But you have made some very important points!!!!! I had no idea that so much tax money went towards them. Thanks for opening my eyes!!!!!!!!!!

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  2. Anonymous12:10 a.m.

    Right on. Talk to any of us on medical wait lists in BC about how we feel when we see the amazing immediate medical care and state of the art diagnostic equipment made available for the elite athletes during the games!!

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  3. Love it. Totally agree. I understand that athletes need a forum to compete, but all the hoopla that goes with it and the money that gets spent makes me see red every time. And then, personally, I find it mind-numbingly boring. Which doesn't mean I begrudge people who like it, but I certainly don't want to hear about it 24 hours a day and have people act like I'm an evil person because I am not following it. I don't get on their case when they say they're not watching American Idol! :)

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  4. Vanessa10:36 a.m.

    Excellent points!
    Even though I was really young during the Calgary '88 Olympics, I don't remember them being this much of a corporate circus.
    I think in Canada we're a bit deluded into thinking we have such a fair, egalitarian country, but when there's more resources for over-the-top opening ceremonies and trucking snow around than there is for health care and education, we really have a lot of work to do as a society.

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  5. Alhamdulillah (or Hallelujah)!

    I hear ya sister! I am almost afraid to say it out loud because I end up getting a sermon about "how much effort athletes put in" and its so emotional for them, and the sacrifices they make, and talent and so on.

    For WHAT???? It is the worst spectacle of spotlighting the human ego and masking it as something noble. I actually have a beef against ALL professional (commercialized) sports. (Not sport and competition in general, I love it, but just professional sports). When Golfing and basketball becomes a billion dollar franchise and so on. I have no tears for Roger Federer losing his game against Nadal. Boo effin hoo.

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  6. Thank God!! I thought I was the only one!

    Ugh and the emotional stories of some of the athletes and what they've had to overcome to get to the olympics. They should spend an hour with us and see what our kids have overcome and are overcoming, now that's inspirational.

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  7. Thank you!!! AMEN!!! WORD!!!!!!
    I am soooo sick of professional sports in general. People sleep in doorways, families sleep in cars, we don't all have medical coverage, lack of funding is slowing down finding cures for illnesses, our education system is failing more and more every day, the inequality in our country is overwhelming----but we are supposed to care about an overpaid athlete who is paid to perfect their HOBBY???

    I do not care one tiny bit about the Olympics. Not the tiniest little possible bit.

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  8. Anonymous3:43 p.m.

    But now we are told we have to feel good about these expensive games because they have made Canadians patriotic. See, that makes them okay. Feel better everyone? Jaysus.

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  9. Anonymous12:26 p.m.

    Great, great, great post.

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  10. Wow, I thought I was the only one who felt this way. What a colossal waste of money! We are one of those families paying out of pocket and going broke paying for therapy, while millions are being spent on a stupid opening ceremony (which is totally unnecessary and accomplishes nothing) and a forum for people to show off skills like curling! I agree, your son and my son, and all the kids who work hard EVERY SINGLE DAY just to function are much bigger heroes than these yahoos flying down a mountain of ice and snow. Sheesh!

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  11. yeah, i didn't even watch this year. didn't care!

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  12. Anonymous9:53 a.m.

    I found your site via your husband, as I am a huge basketball recreational player and fan. I am going to be in the distinct minority here, but at the same time would like to put forward a contrarian viewpoint. I know that it will not change how you all feel, but if anything, at least it may open your eyes to what I represent, which IMO, judging from recent polls, is the vast majority of Canadians.

    I am 45 years old, and the national pride that has been felt across the country is unprecedented given its scope and duration that has taken place. Regardless of how you feel about the funding, and let's be real, in the scheme of things it is a drop in the bucket, the 14 gold medals we won that resulted in hearing our national anthem playing more often that any other country in the world was incredible.

    We also tied the States for top five finishes. Our athletes who work hard and sacrifice all the time, similar to what the parents of Autistic kids do, both deserve the funding and support of the gov't and also from private corporations. Rather than bashing what they got, why not follow their model of lobbying, seeking out business partners, philanthropists, etc. in order to raise money and awareness for your worthwhile cause. I know you are doing it now, but why not use what the athletes have done to bring positive energy to your worthy cause?

    I enjoy your site, and my two kids have their best friends both with autistic siblings, and that is mainly why I follow your blog, as it provides me with insights on what their families are going through on a 24/7 basis, and I can empathize with you on how difficult and unrelenting it is.

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  13. Anonymous11:10 a.m.

    With respect to the above post: I think if you lived the day to day reality of this family you would not have posted here. Parents and others involved in the autism movement don't need you to take them to school. I hope folks like Fickle Feline continue to hold the politicians' feet to fire on funding for autism. I love Canada, but as I watched the floating beavers and maple leaves in the closing ceremony,I kept wondering how much each one of those items cost.

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  14. Anonymous5:30 p.m.

    I believe that our one brave contrarian made a truly valid point here, and was well aware that they were in the minority.

    As an ASD mom myself, who incidentally enjoyed the Olympics, I can appreciate my beloved FF's views without needing to necessarily agree. I can listen, respect, and know that FF is a big enough mama to engage in an intelligent and possibly uncomfortable discussion - gracefully.

    I hardly think our one contrarian was asking anyone to take your kids to school. It was just another point of view. Good for them.

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