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Boston's own Nancy Kerrigan.

Why would a Winter Olympic athlete light the torch for a Summer Olympic Games??? NOT happening. It would be pretty crazy to see Bruce Jenner light the torch. But Michael Phelps, the most winning athlete in the Olympics would probably be a great choice as well. Oh or they could do a group effort like they did in SLC2002. We could have the Fierce Five from the 2012 London Olympics, or even better the Magnificent Seven from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

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Ms Jenner is still my vote!

It will have t0 be Phelps though.

I agree, I have always seen Phelps as the unequivocal favorite to light the cauldron for the next games on US soil. Maybe Chicago 2016 should have used him more, have him do a speech during the final presentation...maybe we would have won...

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I agree, I have always seen Phelps as the unequivocal favorite to light the cauldron for the next games on US soil. Maybe Chicago 2016 should have used him more, have him do a speech during the final presentation...maybe we would have won...

You honestly think that would have made the difference between early exit and winning the final ballot? I think not.

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Phelps... Extrodinary athlete. Not someone you want speaking on your behalf

Very true he sounds like a stoner. And he did get caught as a smoker when a pic of him smoking a bowl was spreading on the interwebs. And don't look for Ryan Lochte for you to speak either, because:

Seth Macfarlane, the creator of Family Guy, even made fun of him when he hosted SNL. Couldn't find a better video than this, but the whole episode is on HULU. The individual clip isn't available on there anymore

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I have one simple and probably silly question. Regarding this continent roation thing, we could consider that America is out of the race for 2024, right? Since Rio's Game will be held on the American continent. Wouldn't be safer to bet on the 2028 Games for the US? And probably 2032 for the first African Games?

So yes, basically here's my question: do you guys also consider Rio to be Games set on the American continent (I know, South America but yet, America)?

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The cultures are quite different. That's like saying a European nation shouldn't get the next games because Tokyo is on the same continent as Eurasia. or an African city shouldn't get it because of Afro-Eurasia.


Plus, different factors will affect the outcomes of each cycle. If Europe presents very few candidates with weak competition and Africa or Australia or Asia shows no interest, then of course, the games would go to the American continent.

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The cultures are quite different. That's like saying a European nation shouldn't get the next games because Tokyo is on the same continent as Eurasia. or an African city shouldn't get it because of Afro-Eurasia.

Plus, different factors will affect the outcomes of each cycle. If Europe presents very few candidates with weak competition and Africa or Australia or Asia shows no interest, then of course, the games would go to the American continent.

Well, the cultures are as different between Spain, Germany, France, England, Italy. Yet they're all part of Europe. Tokyo is absolutely not. Think about the Olympic rings. Rio and Boston share the same ring, Paris and Tokyo don't. There are 5 five continents for 5 rings.

But of course it will all depends on who's bidding in the end. I do think there will be at least one European bid (Rome, Berlin/Hamburg, Paris, maybe more).

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Well, the cultures are as different between Spain, Germany, France, England, Italy. Yet they're all part of Europe. Tokyo is absolutely not. Think about the Olympic rings. Rio and Boston share the same ring, Paris and Tokyo don't. There are 5 five continents for 5 rings.

But of course it will all depends on who's bidding in the end. I do think there will be at least one European bid (Rome, Berlin/Hamburg, Paris, maybe more).

The atmosphere, mindsets, opinions and politics vary dramatically between North America and Latin America, same for the different sections of Europe. Maybe that's one of the reasons why the IOC liked Europe so much back in the day, It's quite diverse as well as developed. So although cultures may be different, people still generalize hence why Afro-Eurasia is separated into 3 continents for simplicity's sake. Besides, the debate for continents vary by location, In the US, you are taught that there are 7 continents.

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The atmosphere, mindsets, opinions and politics vary dramatically between North America and Latin America, same for the different sections of Europe. Maybe that's one of the reasons why the IOC liked Europe so much back in the day, It's quite diverse as well as developed. So although cultures may be different, people still generalize hence why Afro-Eurasia is separated into 3 continents for simplicity's sake. Besides, the debate for continents vary by location, In the US, you are taught that there are 7 continents.

What he is saying is that the Olympic movement considers the Americas as one.

I have one simple and probably silly question. Regarding this continent roation thing, we could consider that America is out of the race for 2024, right? Since Rio's Game will be held on the American continent. Wouldn't be safer to bet on the 2028 Games for the US? And probably 2032 for the first African Games?

So yes, basically here's my question: do you guys also consider Rio to be Games set on the American continent (I know, South America but yet, America)?

Boston would host if Rome was really weak and unstable and there was not a stronger more reliable European challenger. In the case that there is strong European challenge then I suppose rotation will play, but I personally feel there is no cycle. The IOC has to choose the best option out of who bids.

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What he is saying is that the Olympic movement considers the Americas as one.

Yeah, I know, but surely, the Olympic movement must know of some difference between the north and the south if Europe and Asia can be separated.

actually, ehhh, whatever. It's better to not delve to much into geopolitics anyway.

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Yeah, I know, but surely, the Olympic movement must know of some difference between the north and the south if Europe and Asia can be separated.

actually, ehhh, whatever. It's better to not delve to much into geopolitics anyway.

Umm...the difference between Europe and Asia goes a lot deeper then SA and NA division.

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Yeah, I know, but surely, the Olympic movement must know of some difference between the north and the south if Europe and Asia can be separated.

actually, ehhh, whatever. It's better to not delve to much into geopolitics anyway.

Ahh, one of the age old debates here. Are North America and South America considered 1 continent or 2. The simple answer to that question is.. yes, they are. Obviously by almost any geographical definition, they are separate continents. But in the context of sport and the Olympics, often times they are considered 1. Rarely, if ever, would the same be true of Europe and Asia even though they are 1 contiguous land mass.

Discussions of Olympic voting certainly go beyond those labels. So to the point of whether or not Rio 2016 hurts Boston 2024.. it could certainly sway a vote or 2. But if we're talking about the potential geopolitics of the bid, all things being equal, I still think all signs point to Europe, so the issue of the Americas is probably moot.

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http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2015/02/boston_2024_oylimpic_plans_include_volle.html

This is interesting. Apparently organizers are looking to hold basketball in Springfield, home of the Naismith Hall of Fame and volleyball in nearby Holyoke, site of a proposed Volleyball Hall of Fame and the birthplace of volleyball. I assume both would be preliminary round venues. Seems like a nice touch, but it's not so easy. I know Springfield has the MassMutual Center but it's awfully small at just over 6,000. I've heard that Holyoke is seeking to construct a permanent Volleyball Hall of Fame and museum but it's still on the drawing board. I suppose a hall of fame could include a court that could later be converted into either museum space or scaled down seating wise.

Also looks like there's discussion of a commuter rail from Boston to Worcester and Springfield. If that's the case, I don't see how you don't use the DCU Center in Worcester on the campus of Holy Cross. I raised the possibility a while back but noted the traffic from Boston to Worcester, especially during peak commuting times, is horrendous.

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This is where the Boston bid needs to make some choices. They've talked about using venues around Massachusetts to get more of the state involved and that any public funding might be tied to expanding out of Boston. The problem with that, of course, is that it kills the concept of Boston being a compact bid if there are some far flung venues other than the usual suspects like the outdoor water sports and football. So they need to strike a balance here that I'm not sure they're going to be able to find.

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http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2015/02/boston_2024_oylimpic_plans_include_volle.html

This is interesting. Apparently organizers are looking to hold basketball in Springfield, home of the Naismith Hall of Fame and volleyball in nearby Holyoke, site of a proposed Volleyball Hall of Fame and the birthplace of volleyball. I assume both would be preliminary round venues. Seems like a nice touch, but it's not so easy. I know Springfield has the MassMutual Center but it's awfully small at just over 6,000. I've heard that Holyoke is seeking to construct a permanent Volleyball Hall of Fame and museum but it's still on the drawing board. I suppose a hall of fame could include a court that could later be converted into either museum space or scaled down seating wise.

Also looks like there's discussion of a commuter rail from Boston to Worcester and Springfield. If that's the case, I don't see how you don't use the DCU Center in Worcester on the campus of Holy Cross. I raised the possibility a while back but noted the traffic from Boston to Worcester, especially during peak commuting times, is horrendous.

Well, putting basketball and volleyball in SPringfield and Holyoke would bea homage to those 2 sports -- both born within a few miles of each other. And if Athens 2004 hosted shotput in ancient Olympic (simply as a symbolic move), what could be more appropriate than bringing back basketball and volleyball to where they began simply as YMCA-gym recreational sports? All the more I think that's why Boston is the right choice as the next US Olympic city -- altho I am uncertain of the timing.

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Ah, Mass politics at its finest. They are going to have to throw some bones to Western Mass to make this happen. Whether that means actual events, or money for transit has yet to be clear. Don't read too much into this article... lots of posturing and sucking up to Richie Neal.

The MassMutual Center holds over 7,000 for baskeetball... larger than what Atlanta used.... you could certainlly throw a few preliminary matches or much of the women's tournament there. Good access as well. Volleyball in Holyoke? That's how you know they are blowing smoke. There is 0% chance of Holyoke hosting anything. Whitewater on the Deerfield? Huge logistiacal problems.

Note - The DCU cernter isn't at Holy Cross. They have the much smaller Hart Center. The DCU is right at the train station however.

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