[syhprum (OP)]

There where many problems the only wide band channel was an experimental satelite with a band width of 5MB's and the original TV standard was 525 lines 60 frames and the UK standard was 405 lines 50 frames.
It was not a great success !

[alancalverd]

What was good in the old days was being able to see the winners in action. All there seems to be on UK TV right now is interviews with the Brits who came fourth and kids who didn't compete "because of mental health issues". And all they ever say is "it's been a journey" - as if anyone could get to Tokyo by any other means - and "it's been hard work" - as if spending most of your waking hours in a gym for 5 years was ever anything else.

I fancy recreating the OIympic ideal of individual competition, not national posturing. My scheme is to rent an existing arena (thus saving vast amounts of time and money) and charge anyone who fancies a go, £500 to compete. I'd appoint a committee of experts to recruit seeded competitors from anywhere and pay their travel costs. So for a serious but not ridiculous sum of money you can run, fight, throw, swim or whatever against the best in the world, and any profits will be distributed as prize money. TV rights are for sale, but limited to showing the event and the podium. National flags will be limited to a 2 x 3 inch badge on your vest. 

[syhprum (OP)]

The Americans started it in 1932 with more razzmatazz's than competition then the Germans followed on in 1936 with lots of politics (but with interesting TV technology) then we had a 12 year break while we were killing each other but the Helsinki games in 1948 were pretty sober. 

[Bored chemist]

It was not a great success !

It was better than the coverage in 62, and that's the point.

[alancalverd]

I have written the new opening ceremony. I will stand up and say "Welcome to Birmingham. Have fun, and don't hang around on the rifle range." Then people will start doing actual athletic things.

[Bored chemist]

Why would there be a rifle range?
If people recognised the difference between athleticism and skill, the Olympics wouldn't feature rhythmic gymnastics, bricklaying  and shooting.

[alancalverd]

It's all about a contest of skill and strength. There's skill in weightlifting, and strength in dressage, with a full spectrum in between.

If anyone wants to compete with anyone else in anything that is classed as a sport, they are welcome to come to my Olympiad, but my lawyers say we must have the proper Elf and Safety briefing or someone will complain about being shot or pranged by a javelin.

I took my brief from the gate sergeant at an army camp where I attended a post-WW3 civil defence course. He climbed onto the bus, welcomed us for a weekend of first aid and frolics, and said "Security today is code orange. Don't bugger about."

[Bored chemist]

I attended a post-WW3 civil defence course.

Post WW3 there may not be much to defend.

It's all about a contest of skill and strength.

That's why I included bricklaying.

[alancalverd]

Post WW3 there may not be much to defend.

The entire affair was surreal, and well worth an after-dinner reminiscence. On that particular day we were treated to an excellent lunch cooked on an improvised Soyer boiler (brilliant), with ingredients that our hostess  explained would be readily available The Day After: prime Scotch beef and garden vegetables. Evening lectures ranged from bizarre to insane over the course of a year.

[alancalverd]

That's why I included bricklaying.

Now that is a good idea. Instead of spending a fortune on a stadium and village that doesn't get finished unless you bribe the contractor, and falls to bits the next day, we'll make it part of the competition to build a really good council estate. On track record, I'd back the Polish team to finish on time and in budget, with Team HS2 disqualified before the start.

[Bored chemist]

My scheme is to rent an existing arena (thus saving vast amounts of time and money)

Instead of spending a fortune on a stadium

[alancalverd]

I had Birmingham in mind because the university athletics track is (was, anyway) pretty good, but there's scope for some new housing, so your competitive bricklaying could be a win-win game.

[Bored chemist]

I had Birmingham in mind

stadium and village

Birmingham...is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. It is the second-largest city, urban area and metropolitan area in England and the United Kingdom,
ex
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham

[Bored chemist]

your competitive bricklaying

about 1.5 million hits on Google suggests it's not "mine".

[alancalverd]

"Village" is the technical term for where Olympic athletes live during the Games. They tend to be very expensive temporary buildings. I think Brum could do with some new council housing built to a decent standard.

Anyway it's good to see that the sport is already popular. I think we have struck a good vein.

[Petrochemicals]

"Village" is the technical term for where Olympic athletes live during the Games. They tend to be very expensive temporary buildings. I think Brum could do with some new council housing built to a decent standard.

Anyway it's good to see that the sport is already popular. I think we have struck a good vein.

You are aware they are building the commonwealth games in Burmingum, the housing is probably the highest quality high rise type seen in London Stratford.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Village,_London

 

I had Birmingham in mind because the university athletics track is (was, anyway) pretty good, but there's scope for some new housing, so your competitive bricklaying could be a win-win game.

Alexandria stadium is being redeveloped, it was a pretty good track before, maybe almost as good as your university, it had held diamond league meetings. It also has a team producing olympians.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Stadium

[Bored chemist]

t was a pretty good track before, maybe almost as good as your university,

It is ... unorthodox... to compare a running track to a university.
But both involve going rapidly round in circles.

[Petrochemicals]

One thing I notice is the extra large podiums for social distancing, yet in the Olympic spirit means they all gather together for a photo on the top shelf, at least they did during the women's rock climbing.