To think Rio has been shocking

[pleasemothermay1]

There is hardly any one in the seats even the foot ball and brizallians love foot ball

The pools are green no one can say why I hear a rugby athlete got injured they got lost on route to the hospital in abulance 😳

There are issues with transport

The ioc have said this has been one of the most diffcult games in a long time

Even the opening was very poor I no they didn't have much money so why not just do a carnival instead they tried to copy ours though the ages sort of thing but not very well play to your strengths I think some samba and carival theam would have been awesome.

Also some govermnet staff have not been paid I fear that it's unlikely the para games will be much better
Contrast to London were there wasn't a ticket going begging even for the para games

I think it's all well and good allowing emerging countries to have this but they must be able to afford it and also show that the tickets will be pitched at a price of the avarge wage

amd also that the cost of the games is not at the expense of paying your govermnet staff there will be no legacy at least we have had the good sense to sell some of our ventunes I don't think there is any vunue sitting empty

Oh for the poster who is frustrated by interrupted coverage- have you tried bbc red button? You can choose to follow a particular discipline/ event.

The sailing is shocking - they cant control the weather but the decent outer courses have no tv cameras so loads of events are simply not being shown! They are now threatening not to hold medal races. Shambles.

Well, this thread has developed in a very edifying manner. Not.

Fwiw, I watched the Opening Ceremony today (yes, yes, late to the party - story of my life) and I thought it was great. I loved the fact that they did not go all out Carnevale-y and the use of the projected graphics was original and stunning.

I think these Olympics are suffering from all the controversy leading up to the games, there is a bad taste in lots of people's mouths and they did have a class act to follow.

I am optimistic that there will be a net benefit at the end for all who participated, whether as athletes or organisers/ancillary staff, even it some things could have been organised better (I did not know that about the cycling conditions, for instance, or the sailing).

Brits being negative? You don't say...

On plus side, every time one of our athletes does well in Rio -- their family is there at the track side/pitch side to give them a hug. And not just 2 people from the family, but sometimes a big group like 4-6+ people. Not like when Chris Hoy's family struggled to get tickets in London to more than 1 event. It's great to see the athletes get to celebrate with their families.

I agree a bit with the PP who said we shouldn't feel the need to win so many medals. The UK athletes are benefitting from programmes costing hundreds millions of lottery money (I thought lottery was meant to raise money for charities)..

Loving our wins but of course it isn't purely down to talent. All this cash means it sure ain't a level playing field.

There isn't that much cash available. Chris Hoy mentioned while commentating that he benefited from lottery funding which allowed him to train full time but that it isn't a lot of money overall. Many participants are scraping by and are forced to live at home with their parents. I think team GB have done really well. And as for all the groups of supporters out there, there are plenty of competitors whose family couldn't afford to go; one of the Scottish swimmers parents was a case in point. They were interviewed early on and said they couldn't afford flights or the tickets. Generally, I get the impression that huge sacrifices have been made all round.

not all families are there, Louis Smith mum wasnt, and there are others

Definitely a lot of families stuck back home. Many athletes have absolutely no family support.
There's (obviously) no financial help and ordinary families just can't afford/justify it, however exciting it would be.