Rio Olympics Empty Stadiums

• First morning of track and fields events should have seen 46,931-seater stadium filling up rapidly
• But as the 110m hurdles in the heptathlon started events in the stadium the seats were largely empty
• A world record in the women's 10,000m got muted applause from the largely-empty stands
• Rio 2016's chief spokesman Mario Andrada admitted barely half-full venues were a 'problem'
• He claimed: 'Some of the events have massive crowds and massive atmosphere'
• But not clear which ones he meant - swimming and beach volleyball also hit by empty seats

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3736214/Where-everybody-Track-field-starts-Olympics-virtually-turns-officials-admit-ve-got-problem.html

All this time we've been told that Olympic games are supposed to help the host nation's economy. WTF is going on here?

Paranoia over the Zika virus in Rio sure as hell didn't help entice anyone to buy tickets to the games. The nation is in economic turmoil and they can't get enough visitors to fill any of the seats.

 

I would imagine it is a combination of a lot of variables that is in part the reasons. Not the least of which is that it is being held in a country with a large amount of poverty and out of the reach of many to attend. Probably this was not the best site to have hosted.

 

I have seen more than one movie about the crime in rio. That would have been enough to keep me away from these games.

 

Have you seen the water?



'nuf said.

 

probably because the olympics are kind of boring.

 

That would be a reason if they didn't sell out in all the other games.

 

The Olympics are a joke. Nothing but a bunch of he-shes and drug-addled jokers on performance enhancing drugs.

 

A lot of locals were displaced from their homes to build these stadiums, so its understandable

 

is it really locals that normally attend the olympics? i assumed it was mostly rich people using it as a status symbol, sort of like most of the people that attend the super bowl, who generally don't actually know or care what a football is.

 

If someone tried to use going to an Olympic event as a status symbol I think I'd just laugh lol. Status. What? Falling asleep of boredom? >.> I agree with PR and I'm actually into partaking in some of these events just as a recreational hobby. Like, I enjoy my archery, I've enjoyed fencing, equestrian and target shooting. Other than equestrian, I don't find anything else particularly too interesting to watch though.

I could never see myself at a "games" event watching people run or walk or swim. It really doesn't surprise me to see empty stadiums. Not that I personally have, I haven't watched barely anything, but yeah I just can't see why it'd be something to go to.. Especially if it's expensive as I think it might be.

One decent sports event in any major city, hotel prices triple, they literally bleed you of your money the nearby towns and cities. It's unfair. It's rubbish. Even decent concerts have that effect and it just rolls on. Hotels are more expensive. The food becomes more expensive. All a sudden there's a door fee to get into a place...

Not only that, but to me some Olympic events aren't even as important as other competitions of that sport. The World Cup in soccer for example... World Cup fever is huge, right? I don't hear anybody really talk about the Olympic soccer. By right, to me anyway, it should be Apex... It's Olympic... But the players don't get paid near enough for it, you earn more in your premier leagues and club matches and playing for your country in the World Cup. Earn a lot more than what that gold medal is worth I think.

If I had to go to one event this Olympic, I think id like to see that African American gymnist. From the replays I've seen she's absolutely fantastic. I also laugh though, that it's a big deal that she's the first African American to get a medal. Lol. Like isn't she just American?

 

pretty sure she isnt the first african american to get a medal...i could be wrong but anyway, yes she is just american. which is why i am sick of hearing about this muslim fencer. (your religion isnt gonna help you stab someone with a sword so shut up and practice more)

 

I noticed that a lot of locals would if they had the money. There are some parts of the games that seem free to attend (probably the less popular ones ), and the stadiums are much more crowded

So it may be a principle thing for a lot of potential foreign tourists but not for a lot of locals.

 

I think they're empty because everyone can just as easily watch on TV for free. Anyway, I enjoy seeing the olympics on the TVs at the gym. It gives me a sense of pride or something. It's weird. I don't know why but I have an affinity for the Olympics. GO USA!

 

Agreed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0ztLtpuwkM

 

There should be a competition in which all the athletes are randomly assigned an event. So Gabby Douglas might be, let's say, swimming. Or Michael Phelps would try his hand at boxing. Usain Bolt? Balance Beam. This would make it damn interesting.

 

Wow all of them?


My nephew at the juniors. He is currently working on being ready for the next Olympics as an adult. Most serious athletes do not dope.

 

This is rather an interesting article discussing some of the issues that locals dealt with and the overall tone in Rio.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/with-the-rio-olympics-looming-brazilians-are-in-no-mood-to-celebrate/article29766600/

 

Even the (real) logo looks like discarded plastic that holds a six pack together.

I was unimpressed in Sydney, looks way better on TV than it does live. Attended the track in the main stadium one night, there's way more downtime between events than you realise.

Plus, I'd never set foot in South America and I doubt most of the locals could afford to go anyway

 

Green water in the swimming pools and the officials don't know why.