Australia is launching a bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called it that "greatest sporting event on Earth". What a crock! I know it's the most viewed event and blah, blah, blah, but it's one sport! The Olympic Games have far more countries represented, feature competitions in many more sports and have a much greater history and symbolism.

Perhaps the World Cup is the greatest sporting event for one sport, but let's not get carried away.

I always thought the cheese rolling festival as the greatest!

Yah his wording is a bit off cause it would be a big deal for Australia but not for the entire world of sports. He's only a PM they screw up all the time!

AlfofMelmak said:

Alf! Looks like some pretty squozen cheese!

Moonbeam said:

it will be at the bottom of the hill.

All okay, my friend?

Thanks Moonbeam, give us a call when your shuttle finally lands.

Imago said:

Moonbeam said:

he's lobbying, so there's going to be hyperbole....


you should hear Mayor Daley in Chicago talk about the 2016 Olympics
[Edited 6/14/09 1:01am]

You should've seen the celebrations in my city when Australia got through to the Cup, you'd think Jesus had come back!

And if Rudd really thinks he's still going to be Prime Minister by then well

IMO spending money on huge, elite sporting events when there are millions of people starving to death should be criminal.

My city's hosting the Olympics next year. Guess how we paid to win the bid for the hosting rights? By cutting funding to education, health care, and social services and channeling the money toward the fucking games. As a direct result, the city's homeless population has jumped over 300% in the last 5 years.

meow85 said:

You don't think overall your city will come out with a profit after it is over? It will.

weused2luvhim said:

I'm not inclined to think that a bit of extra cash in pockets of investors and politicians is worth the price of putting and keeping literally hundreds of people in abject poverty. The lower eastside of Vancouver's downtown was already the poorest neighbourhood in Canada, with the highest crime rate. Cutting funding from mental health facilities and social services has, obviously, made matters much worse. And knowing the provincial government, any profit from the Olympics is NOT going to benefit those who were displaced and abused to have the Games here.

If there is such a place as Hell, I firmly believe Premier Gordon Campbell is going there for this.