[erik06]

ridenrain wrote:

Aside from furiously trying to paint me as a racist, you don't provide any details.

I did use Ethiopia as an example but Kenya and a number of other countries could have been used. These are countries that are far from wealthy, yet produce world class athletes. The idea that we will have better athletes if we spend more money is as silly as expecting the health care system to get better by simply dumping more money into it.
Please prove to me that their victories are from an organized and well funded athletic support system.

I didn't say they were excellent runners because they 'pumped money into their system,' I didn't agree with your assumption that "their sports program involves a stolen soccer ball and running away from bullets."

As I said, they have a difficult training program that dosen't involve stolen goods or shooting eachother.

http://www.kenyanway.com/main.php
The program dosen't include dodging bullets or stealing anything.

"Training camps are now being established throughout this area, and are providing highly specialized training for both local and international athletes. Five seperate camps offering accommodation and training programs are now in operation, and as international interest increases, more are planned."

http://www.magicalkenya.com/default.nsf ... cument&l=1

A Canadian runner / reporter did a documentary on the people and training program for the CBC.

Not to mention that funding athletes dosen't mean throwing money at them. It includes building specialized training facilities around the country, similar to Australia.

I hadn't attempted to paint you as anything, but its obvious you are pretty ignorant of the subject.

[RUEZ]

Doughboy wrote:

It's nice to see some of the CKA right all the sudden oppose amateur athletics because the conservatives broke their election promise.

Do you have some proof that these people supported it before? Or are you just being an ass?

[erik06]

I'm pretty sure they read "feds fail to deliver on..." and decided to lend blind support to their mighty rulers... as they were the first ones to reply and agree that amateur sports are worthless.

[ridenrain]

Nice assumptions there.
Are you suggesting that everyone here who is against amateur sports is also a blind supporter of the CPC?

[Blue_Nose]

I'm as unpartisan as they get, FYI.

"It's nice to see that" you have such little faith in CKA's members' ability to think for themselves.

[Tman1]

In my mind, it would be nice for Canada to be in the top five medalists in the summer games for once. Ever wonder why Australia wins in almost everything? Because they are heavily funded by the government as well as supported by the public. They also fund programs for children at an early age. United States? Germany? Same thing.

Same thing for winter sports where Norway and Austria dominate....of course then again, the passion for the sport and the guts to win for their country is a close second. If you don't have that....

[Knoss]

Quote:

The reality is people are motivated by amateur athletes, and as a result of great olympic moments, people are INSPIRED to sign up for a sport and get active. Maybe not everyone will become an olympic champion or score the winning goal in game 7 of the stanley cup championship, but people are going to be more active and our country will have less of a weight problem.

BS people are more likely to drink a 3 litre bottle of the softdrink with the basketball star eat a bulk pac of the chips with the runner on them while watching the Olympics then to actully play sports besides, what of those who wish not to compete

[SireJoe]

Are people actually swayed by celeb endorsements? Whenever I see some jock or star on a product, personally I am more enclined NOT to drink or eat it.....usually means more money has been spent on the advertising than what actually went into the product.

I just cannot imagine buying something for the simple fact that tiger woods, or wayne gretkzy or whoever is endorsing it. It just seems so stupid.

Do you, or anyone you know buy stuff simply because of this?

[Knoss]

Perhaps, hard to say, I think the olympics biggest faliure is governement competeing more then the athletes. Sports is not the only way to increse exercise, work helps, indevidual exercises (not just as training), also play a role.

But more importaintly what do we really have to gain from athletes winning medals? We have more importaint things to do then show off to Australia and Norway.

[Arctic_Menace]

ridenrain wrote:

I'm always blown away that someone from Ethiopia wins almost all marathons, gets numerous awards, and does well in all Olympics even though their sports program involves a stolen soccer ball and running away from bullets. Throwing money at the problem is obviously not the solution here.
My national identity will not diminish one tiny bit if we never get another gold medal. I'd trade them all for a solid, productive and profitable manufacturing industry, and the solid middle class that comes with it.

There's one problem with your wish/belief.....




Many internationally will begin to have a different opinion of Canada, and it will be a negative one......