A Big Fat Cow
I understand that the "beautification" of Athens, in time for the Olympics, has fallen foul of the budget constraints.
It seems that good quality plants and shrubs, that would have been able to take root and flourish in the hottest part of the year, have been axed.
So much for the Games adding value to the city that hosts them!
In fact, as I have noted, these games are likely to be the most controversial ever held. An "anti 2004 alliance", consisting of; artists, anarchists, architects, greens and other assorted "scallywags" is organising an ongoing campaign of protests against the Athens 2004 Games.
The anti 2004 alliance believes that the Games have turned into a money making extravaganza; with the lofty ideals of sportsmanship, and co-operation between nations long since abandoned.
They believe that the Games have become a "big fat cash cow".
True or not, I suspect that the good citizens of Athens will see very little of the cash themselves.
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Friday, May 21, 2004
Dad to the Rescue
It is reported that President Bush says Greece is making "good progress", in its efforts to protect the Olympics 2004 from a terrorist attack.
A cynic might remark that praise from the man who engineered the current "stability and security" in Iraq, is not necessarily worth that much.
Unfortunately, it being an election year, the President won't be attending the games himself. He will instead send his 80 year old father.
I doubt that the election is the prime reason for skipping the Olympic Games.
Those of you who were present in London a while ago, when the President visited, will recall the enormous security precautions taken there. They were exceptionally costly in terms of manpower, money and disruption to daily life.
All of that was required to make the President feel safe in a country that is a stable ally, and well used to protecting VIP's.
Imagine the chaos and confusion that would occur if he went to Greece.
The sad fact for the USA is, that there are simply very few countries in the world now that can make the President of the world's most powerful nation feel safe.
It is reported that President Bush says Greece is making "good progress", in its efforts to protect the Olympics 2004 from a terrorist attack.
A cynic might remark that praise from the man who engineered the current "stability and security" in Iraq, is not necessarily worth that much.
Unfortunately, it being an election year, the President won't be attending the games himself. He will instead send his 80 year old father.
I doubt that the election is the prime reason for skipping the Olympic Games.
Those of you who were present in London a while ago, when the President visited, will recall the enormous security precautions taken there. They were exceptionally costly in terms of manpower, money and disruption to daily life.
All of that was required to make the President feel safe in a country that is a stable ally, and well used to protecting VIP's.
Imagine the chaos and confusion that would occur if he went to Greece.
The sad fact for the USA is, that there are simply very few countries in the world now that can make the President of the world's most powerful nation feel safe.
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Enhance Your Performance
The drug scandal that simply won't go away.
Kelli White, a world class sprinter, has been barred from the Olympics 2004 being held in Athens; seemingly as a result of the investigation into the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO).
Kelli, it appears, has admitted to using steroids and another nefarious enhancing substance. She has been suspended from competition for two years.
It seems that others may well be given a "spanking", for dabbling in enhancing drugs, as the evidence from the BALCO investigation is scrutinised.
Rumours are that the Olympic sprint champion Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery, another runner, are also in the sights of the US Anti Doping Agency.
USADA will be conducting tests, seemingly this will be a case of "urine, you're out".
In other news, London is through to the next stages of deciding who will host the Olympic games in 2012. It came third out of five.
However, the judges gave London a dressing down for its lousy transport infrastructure.
Not much of a surprise there then?
Given the above, the only question that the citizens of the UK should be addressing is; why waste £25M of taxpayers' money, on bidding for something that they have no chance of winning.
The drug scandal that simply won't go away.
Kelli White, a world class sprinter, has been barred from the Olympics 2004 being held in Athens; seemingly as a result of the investigation into the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO).
Kelli, it appears, has admitted to using steroids and another nefarious enhancing substance. She has been suspended from competition for two years.
It seems that others may well be given a "spanking", for dabbling in enhancing drugs, as the evidence from the BALCO investigation is scrutinised.
Rumours are that the Olympic sprint champion Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery, another runner, are also in the sights of the US Anti Doping Agency.
USADA will be conducting tests, seemingly this will be a case of "urine, you're out".
In other news, London is through to the next stages of deciding who will host the Olympic games in 2012. It came third out of five.
However, the judges gave London a dressing down for its lousy transport infrastructure.
Not much of a surprise there then?
Given the above, the only question that the citizens of the UK should be addressing is; why waste £25M of taxpayers' money, on bidding for something that they have no chance of winning.
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Volte Farce
It seems that, in a complete turn around from earlier statements, Greece now expects to reduce its public deficit to 2.9 percent of output in 2004. This is in contrast to earlier statements predicting another year of deficits in excess of 3%, the EU's budgetary ceiling.
Greece seems to be relying on the Keynesian principle of "pay a man to dig a hole, rather than pay him to do nothing" coming to the rescue of its bloated budget.
Greece's Economy and Finance Minister Yiorgos Alogoskoufis, is now expecting the general government deficit will reach 2.9%.
This is despite the fact that the cost of the Olympic Games 2004 is now expected to be a whopping 5.4BN Euros.
The magic 2.9% (below the 3% threshold) is to be achieved by unidentified funds saving post Olympics 2004.
Well we can all hope!
In May, the much respected and trusted, Eurostat statistics agency (see In Your Face and read my article about fraud to see what I think of them) said that the Greek deficit was 3.2% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2003. In April 2004 the EU's executive commission noted that the Greek deficit was likely to stay at 3.2% in 2004.
Given the above, would anyone care to venture an opinion as to how Greece will dip below the 3% threshold?
Answers please on a postcard to the Greek Finance Minister, I suspect he needs all the help that he can get.
It seems that, in a complete turn around from earlier statements, Greece now expects to reduce its public deficit to 2.9 percent of output in 2004. This is in contrast to earlier statements predicting another year of deficits in excess of 3%, the EU's budgetary ceiling.
Greece seems to be relying on the Keynesian principle of "pay a man to dig a hole, rather than pay him to do nothing" coming to the rescue of its bloated budget.
Greece's Economy and Finance Minister Yiorgos Alogoskoufis, is now expecting the general government deficit will reach 2.9%.
This is despite the fact that the cost of the Olympic Games 2004 is now expected to be a whopping 5.4BN Euros.
The magic 2.9% (below the 3% threshold) is to be achieved by unidentified funds saving post Olympics 2004.
Well we can all hope!
In May, the much respected and trusted, Eurostat statistics agency (see In Your Face and read my article about fraud to see what I think of them) said that the Greek deficit was 3.2% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2003. In April 2004 the EU's executive commission noted that the Greek deficit was likely to stay at 3.2% in 2004.
Given the above, would anyone care to venture an opinion as to how Greece will dip below the 3% threshold?
Answers please on a postcard to the Greek Finance Minister, I suspect he needs all the help that he can get.
Monday, May 17, 2004
Sex Is No Barrier
The International Olympic Committee has approved a measure that will allow individuals, who have undergone sex change surgery, to be eligible for competing in the Olympics.
They must have undergone a minimum of two years post operation hormone therapy, and be legally recognised in their new gender.
There had, until now, been concerns that those individuals who had changed from men to women; may have had an advantage, in terms of capacity and strength. However, it is believed that the hormone therapy counteracts that advantage.
However, there are some concerns voiced by a few; that the love of money may encourage certain "idiots" to change sex, in order to have a perceived advantage.
The International Olympic Committee has approved a measure that will allow individuals, who have undergone sex change surgery, to be eligible for competing in the Olympics.
They must have undergone a minimum of two years post operation hormone therapy, and be legally recognised in their new gender.
There had, until now, been concerns that those individuals who had changed from men to women; may have had an advantage, in terms of capacity and strength. However, it is believed that the hormone therapy counteracts that advantage.
However, there are some concerns voiced by a few; that the love of money may encourage certain "idiots" to change sex, in order to have a perceived advantage.
It's All BALCO's
I understand that Marion Jones, two time 100 metre champion, has indicated that she will go to court if the USA Anti Drug Agency stops her going to the Olympics in Athens this year.
It seems that the USADA can now keep athletes from competing not just because of a positive drug test, but also if there is other evidence of drug violations.
Marion Jones is a tad "pissed off" at this, and vented her spleen to journalists about the matter.
However, she made no comment about the BALCO issue.
BALCO is the Bay Area Lab Co-operative, it seems that there have been allegations about drug violations; whereby athletes have allegedly been obtaining steroids.
Marion Jones and other athletes have testified in front of a grand jury about BALCO.
It seems that a Senate committee may be handing over documents to USADA about their investigation into BALCO.
I understand that Marion Jones, two time 100 metre champion, has indicated that she will go to court if the USA Anti Drug Agency stops her going to the Olympics in Athens this year.
It seems that the USADA can now keep athletes from competing not just because of a positive drug test, but also if there is other evidence of drug violations.
Marion Jones is a tad "pissed off" at this, and vented her spleen to journalists about the matter.
However, she made no comment about the BALCO issue.
BALCO is the Bay Area Lab Co-operative, it seems that there have been allegations about drug violations; whereby athletes have allegedly been obtaining steroids.
Marion Jones and other athletes have testified in front of a grand jury about BALCO.
It seems that a Senate committee may be handing over documents to USADA about their investigation into BALCO.
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Hardly Sporting, Is It?
I understand that, despite qualifying to attend the Olympics in Athens 2004, the South African Hockey Team may have hit a snag.
The Greeks are miffed at not qualifying; instead of taking their defeat on the chin, "like a man", they have taken the matter up in court (how very mature and sporting of them!).
Their case will be heard at the Court of Arbitration of Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland on Wednesday.
Their argument runs along these lines:
"Since we are hosting this event, our hockey team must appear even if they are not very good".
If the Greeks win then the South Africans, who deserve to attend, will be booted out; as only 12 teams can compete.
Absolutely pathetic, I hope the South Africans win the court case.
I understand that, despite qualifying to attend the Olympics in Athens 2004, the South African Hockey Team may have hit a snag.
The Greeks are miffed at not qualifying; instead of taking their defeat on the chin, "like a man", they have taken the matter up in court (how very mature and sporting of them!).
Their case will be heard at the Court of Arbitration of Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland on Wednesday.
Their argument runs along these lines:
"Since we are hosting this event, our hockey team must appear even if they are not very good".
If the Greeks win then the South Africans, who deserve to attend, will be booted out; as only 12 teams can compete.
Absolutely pathetic, I hope the South Africans win the court case.
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