One of the more interesting things I learned during my sports graduate program was the bidding process, funding, selection, and event planning of major worldwide sporting events such as the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. For those of you like me who don't have HBO (I cry myself to sleep every night), you may have missed John Oliver's brilliant piece on FIFA and it's fearless leader, Sepp Blatter. Here's the video:
Oliver touches on the grotesque amount of money spent in Brazil on stadiums that, once the world cup is over, will have only seen four games played on its surface. No local team will be filling the stadium with fans, no other events are planned for its use. It is not an unusual outcome. Wikipedia (yes, I am of the generation that uses Wikipedia as canon) shows that since 1994, all but one of the Olympic games have come in astoundingly over budget (Vancouver 2010 is the only exception). In fact, the majority have come in AT LEAST THREE TIMES the initial operating budget planned for the event (with Sochi coming in at an astronomical $50 billion). Not only that, but over those twenty years it appears that almost 50% of the funding for these events comes from the public sector. Much like NFL stadium battles (*cough* Vikings *cough*), the public and local community is held at ransom. Either pay up from your pockets or watch as your team or this global event follows the money. (Fans of "The Wire" will understand...follow the money). Billionaire owners and organizational presidents get let off the hook and use the threat of relocation to get taxpayers to fork over millions of dollars that should be spent on education, wellfare, medical research, roads and public transportation, while the suits sit in their leather chairs watching their money come in in waves. It's incredibly illogical and backwards, but as Oliver points out, the religion of sports causes us to do crazy, illogical things.
This clip touches on so many taboo topics in sports. It's a slow-cooked stew of bigger issues: female sexualization, corruption, human rights abuse, shady tax dealings, bigotry, violence, fan safety, all getting to know one another in the crock pot that is FIFA. In all honesty this whole article should probably just be that video...he does a better job explaining and illustrating the bevy of problems and really makes my point for me. Anyhow, the main issue I want to address is the absolute power FIFA, pro sports relocation committees, and the Olympic Selection Committee have over the cities and countries vying for their events.
Oliver touches on the grotesque amount of money spent in Brazil on stadiums that, once the world cup is over, will have only seen four games played on its surface. No local team will be filling the stadium with fans, no other events are planned for its use. It is not an unusual outcome. Wikipedia (yes, I am of the generation that uses Wikipedia as canon) shows that since 1994, all but one of the Olympic games have come in astoundingly over budget (Vancouver 2010 is the only exception). In fact, the majority have come in AT LEAST THREE TIMES the initial operating budget planned for the event (with Sochi coming in at an astronomical $50 billion). Not only that, but over those twenty years it appears that almost 50% of the funding for these events comes from the public sector. Much like NFL stadium battles (*cough* Vikings *cough*), the public and local community is held at ransom. Either pay up from your pockets or watch as your team or this global event follows the money. (Fans of "The Wire" will understand...follow the money). Billionaire owners and organizational presidents get let off the hook and use the threat of relocation to get taxpayers to fork over millions of dollars that should be spent on education, wellfare, medical research, roads and public transportation, while the suits sit in their leather chairs watching their money come in in waves. It's incredibly illogical and backwards, but as Oliver points out, the religion of sports causes us to do crazy, illogical things.
The accompanying pictures show several derelict and abandoned Olympic and World Cup venues, from China to Athens to South Africa. The major problem with these types of places hosting large, global sporting events is that they require bags of money to even build the necessary infrastructure to be a viable host. In reality, there may be only ten countries in the world capable of hosting events such as this with existing stadiums, travel accommodations, and security. Forcing developing countries to spend millions or billions of dollars does not offset the "positives" gained through media coverage and PR for the host nation or city. There's always economic impact studies done beforehand listing the ways the PR and increased tourism will bring in more money and stimulate the local economy...but look at these places even just three years later and you will see abandoned arenas, communities, and neighborhoods. The global economy cannot afford to spend that type of money for four weeks of publicity. Use the stadiums that are already there or don't host the event in that country, simple as that. There is no study out there proving that the PR or media coverage has any long-term advantage or link to economic growth in these places, and most of the time ends up bankrupting or severely hindering future growth and development because of the excess spending. 
The conundrum Oliver faces over his excitement for the world cup versus his genuine disgust for the organization and methodology is one I face every day. I would have been personally devastated and perhaps left the NFL fandom forever if the Vikings had left Minneapolis, but is it worth $600 million of taxpayer money when Mr. Wylf is earning that much annually? I have a hard time justifying it even in my superfan mind.
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