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Cicatrix
08-20-2008, 07:50 PM
The Olympics are here and some of my preferred media sources are reporting on Olympic related issues. The topic of government funding has come up a number of times and there is apparently a correlation between the amount of funding and sucess of the athletes. It can be then inferred that governments are happy to pay for athletic sucess. It got me thinking why this is the case. Why are governments funding athletes? What good does it do? Is it just a feel good thing?
NephilimAzrael
08-20-2008, 08:11 PM
Athletic representatives for a nation act as a form of machismo for the rest of the world to be flaunted under. Who's the biggest, fastest, best etc. So for a nation to fund athletic representatives is to fund the propaganda that a nation is the better one.
If such is the case, China is flaunting it's prowess right now by a staggering lead. Their gold medalists are in the 40+ range.
yondyr
08-25-2008, 06:00 AM
Govts fund sports from the beginning, installing playgrounds, sports fields and leaving large chunks of school time allocated to supposed exercise. That continues into college as an extension of the college 'name'. So you're right, it's an ego thing for the country, the olympics regrettably funded by taxes.
blueback
08-25-2008, 07:08 AM
The government also funds scholarships and music education with taxes. . .stop the presses!
yondyr
08-25-2008, 03:19 PM
I take a strict interpretation on the levying and disbursment of taxes, but thats stepping off subject, so I'll decline to pursue this.
Tyrant Soup
08-29-2008, 12:22 AM
My thought is who cares how many medals a country win? It produces no benefit. It's good for the athletes in that they become high price tools for corporations to peddle their crap to the mindless masses.
enWTFp
08-29-2008, 02:14 AM
As long as some international activities are still very popular and influential around the world, countries will like to invest in maintaining their prestigious positions there. Of course, some countries probably do not need any marketing, being the world leaders anyway, but still events with such a wide media impact should show them in a positive light.