Main focus of Friday, February 12, 2010

Vancouver Olympics begin

For around 2,700 athletes from more than 80 nations the Winter Olympic Games begin this Friday evening in Vancouver. The European press emphasises the athletes' function as role models as regards doping and criticises the high costs incurred in the organisation of the event.

Die Presse - Austria

Before the Olympic Games in Beijing around 70 doped athletes were barred from competition. Shortly before the Winter Games in Vancouver only 30 have been caught. The daily Die Presse doubts that the anti-doping authorities have the situation in hand. "554 doping tests have been carried out in Vancouver and the vicinity even before the Games have got under way. During the men's downhill training the anti-doping squad marched around like paratroopers. ... Is that the way you behave if you've got everything under control? The opposite is to be feared. Namely that in most cases the anti-doping authorities have lost their grip entirely. Arne Ljungqvist, head of the International Olympic Committee IOC's medical commission, patted himself on the back with the words 'the Olympic Games are becoming cleaner from venue to venue'. Sounds like he's just fooling himself. At least in this regard the anti-dopers are neck and neck with the dopers themselves." (12/02/2010)

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Turun Sanomat - Finland

With an eye to the opening of the Olympic Games in Vancouver the daily Turun Sanomat underlines the responsibilities of athletes at any major sports event: "The protagonists at the Olympic Games … are the 2,500 competing athletes, whose performances are covered by 10,000 media representatives from all over the world. Ultimately the credibility of the Olympic ideal depends on them. The World Anti-doping Agency has informed the International Olympic Committee that 30 athletes have been caught doping even before the games. Taking an optimistic view of things this means that the controls are working and rules are being observed. Therefore each case will serve to purify top league sport and promote the spirit of fair play. … The Finnish team comprises 85 athletes. Most of them could certainly be role models for young people in our country, even if only very few of them are likely to win a medal." (12/02/2010)

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Dziennik Gazeta Prawna - Poland

The organisers of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver seriously underestimated the costs of the event, which according to conservative daily Dziennik Gazeta Prawna will no doubt ensure that future events are a lot less extravagant: "Vancouver pumped so much money into the games that they already know they will never be able to redeem their investment. Even the TV stations are making losses. The US broadcaster NBC estimates that losses will amount to around 200 million dollars. After the Canadians were chosen to host the games back in 2003 they estimated the costs at 660 million dollars. The current pessimistic yet realistic estimate is six billion dollars! This will no doubt be that last time we see such extravagant Olympic Games. Is Vancouver the end of the 86-year-long Olympic Games tradition? Surely not. But the next ones will doubtless be on a more modest scale." (12/02/2010)

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