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Message: [QUOTE="Alydar, post: 4009766, member: 730"] I've thought for a long time that the Olympics are largely a money-making scheme. Countries put themselves in debt for tens of billions. A big part of Greece's fiscal trouble started when they financed an Olympics. But nobody tells the citizens about the debt, it's all about patriotism and national pride. The advertising revenue associated with the Games has to be monstrous and it would be highly naïve to think that an athlete's corporate ties aren't involved in some decisions. That would be any sport in which selection isn't 100% objective. There are official rankings in most individual sports but in team sports I wouldn't be surprised if some shoe company pays a premium to insure that a certain number of it's stars are in. In many parts of the world bribery is common and acceptable. It's a wonderful experience for the athletes and I enjoy watching the actual contests but not the jingoistic tenor of American TV. Sorry for being a negafan [/QUOTE]