In the discussion about the Olympics, onlookers lamented, "Alas, these countries have picked up a bargain but ended up in debt!" In modern society, hosting an Olympic Games seems to be not just a sports feast but also a gamble for local finances.
When countries bid for the Olympics, they face not only opportunities but also huge economic burdens that are hard to bear.
The cost of the Olympics has skyrocketed since the 21st Montreal Summer Olympics in 1976. In recent decades, the budget for the Olympics has risen from hundreds of millions of dollars to tens of billions.
For example, the total cost of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics was as high as 12billion,andthecostoftheTokyo2020Olympicsreached15 billion, despite adjustments due to the pandemic.
Such high costs deter many countries, and even some that have hosted the Olympics feel unable to cope.
The huge construction and operating expenses not only strain the national treasury but also worry ordinary people about whether future economic burdens will be imposed on their lives.
Montreal and Athens, the experiences of these two cities are undoubtedly a warning for modern Olympics.
After the 1976 Olympics, Montreal failed to control its budget properly, shouldering debt problems for decades until it finally paid them off in 2006.
Athens, although once bustling before the 2004 Olympics, fell into financial difficulties after the games due to the idling of venues and increased maintenance costs.
The success and failure of Athens serve as a wake-up call for emerging host countries.
This is not just about face; it is a life-and-death economic test.
Behind every Olympic venue built, there may be countless financial risks lurking.
Affected by historical lessons, countries bidding for the Olympics are more cautious and even fearful.
Now, many countries have chosen to give up bidding, even those once enthusiastic about the competitive events.
For instance, in the preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the relevant countries intend to learn from past experiences to ensure financial rationality and controllability.
More and more countries realize that hosting the Olympics is not a glamorous show but a risky path.
Against this backdrop, some countries even say they will carefully assess their economic conditions to ensure they can shoulder this heavy responsibility.
The battle for future Olympic hosting rights has quietly begun.
And behind this battle lies a deep concern about the economic burden.
It is worth noting that the upcoming 2030 Winter Olympics a few years later has also sparked discussions.
Many potential host countries inevitably compare their bids with past lessons when considering bidding.
Economic considerations are bound to affect the judgments of political decision-makers in various countries, making them feel the pressure when facing the promise of hosting rights.
All this seems to suggest that future Olympic host countries may face greater crises, where financial competition has achieved sporting glory and made people reflect deeply.
When the Olympic dream becomes a bubble, economic burdens are everywhere.
The original intention of hosting the Olympics was to unite and promote international exchanges, but in the face of reality's economy, everything seems fragile.
Every proposal for bidding, on the surface, is grandiose, but behind it is a deep-rooted fiscal concern.
As people's enthusiasm for sports gradually cools, we must admit that many countries have borne an unbearable economic burden for that fleeting glory.
In short, the modern Olympics are not only a sports festival but also a silent struggle with economics and finance.
When deciding whether to bid, countries must deeply understand past lessons and examine their economic strength and responsibility with reason and clarity.
Future Olympics should be based on lasting sustainability rather than temporary glory and compensation.
The ability to bear economically should become the prerequisite for measuring the hosting of an Olympic Games, avoiding repeating past mistakes and bringing real hope and dreams to every citizen who cares about the Olympics.