Sri Lanka Should Host The 2020 Olympics
Watching pre-Olympic Games programmes on TV made us realise how much the Olympic Games even in this hi-tech age is dependent on torch bearers. For weeks the Olympic torch was carried from town to town in Britain and finally from borough to borough in London. It made us realise that carrying torches too is a part of the Sri Lankan heritage.
Never mind the ancient times when our torch bearers were vassals to monarchs who may have had the heads of poor torch bearers chopped off if they did not perform their duties well enough. Even today we have torch bearers as you may have seen in the pereheras now on but their heads are completely safe.
Pandang heritage
Let’s forget history for the moment and reflect on present times. Even in the present day we are a nation of great torch bearers – ‘Pandangkarayas’. The Sinhala term has evolved over the times and today’s ‘Pandangkarayas’ need not be physical torch bearers. There are the courtiers around the powers that be – sycophants, hangers on with Teflon smiles directed at the powers that be and guffawing at remarks that are meant to be jokes whether they are jokes or not and of course willing to do any dirty thing.
Yes, we are a nation of torch bears (‘Pandangkarayas’) both in the past and present and why not use this heritage of torch bearing common to both the Olympic Games and Sri Lankans to stake claims to stage the 2020 Olympic Games?
Rio de Janeiro is already agreed on for the 2016 and Sri Lanka under the sporting Rajapakas (if they are there till 2020) should make claim for next time around. Remember our daring bid to stage the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Hambantota? According to our government estimates itself it would have cost Rs 265 billion (at 2011 prices).
Sri Lankan Yahoos (Yakkos) will say we couldn’t have afforded it but don’t forget this daring financial adventure was led by the country’s Central Bank Governor who would have known his onions. Critics however say that Cabraal does not know anything about onions, big or small.
He took a Mihin Air planeload of 130 passengers – athletes, cricketers, hangers on and even a film star and her mother to St. Kitts in the Caribbean where the venue was to be decided.
The actor, entertainer and Central Bank Governor even played kindergarten games like playing ‘trains’ with politician Namal Rajapaksa at a reception they hosted to impress upon the judges of the kind of sporting chaps we are. But the judges were not amused and instead awarded it to Australia.
The Sri Lankan attempt, only to stage the Commonwealth Games, is estimated to have cost Rs 800 million – mainly for canvassing programmes such as a trip to the last World Rugby Cup played in New Zealand where our high spending campaign strategists had purchased a ‘corporate box’ – the prize of such boxes having ranged from $471,000 NZ to $88,000.
16 million loaves of bread
Millions and billions are spoken of today like peanuts and Cadju nuts confuse us about the actual amounts involved. A sobering thought is that Rs 800 million divided by the cost of a loaf of bread at Rs 50 indicates that 16 million loaves of bread could have been provided to the hungry masses.
It has been said that of the Rs 800 million, Rs 700 million had come from the private sector and only Rs 100 million were from the state but the identity of the private sector contributors cannot be divulged. This is very much in keeping with the modern day economic philosophy of sustainable corruption. When you contribute one unidentified money bag you can get two or more unidentified many bags in return.
Perhaps we do not understand the basic strategy involved in the development of Hambantota into a Rajapaksa Wonderland and its strategic importance. Last week we were listening to cricket commentaries of the 4th ODI between India and Sri Lanka. A Sri Lankan commentator, while the match was on, went into ecstasies about the wonder that is Hambantota – highways, harbour, airport, cricket stadium and of course its strategic location. The Indian commentator with him was not impressed. The only thing strategic about the location of Hambantota is its proximity to the Yala wildlife park, he quipped and that ended the song of Hambantota.
Of late some Sri Lankan commentators and even a foreigner have lapsed into the glories of Hambantota even if the game is played elsewhere such as when it was at R. Premadasa Stadium last week. It is time cricket commentators were told not to be torch bearers to promoters of Hambantota even though holding ‘pandang’ is a part of our heritage. This trend of mixing up political propaganda with cricket should be halted by the ICC.
The cost of the London Olympics is estimated a 24 billion pounds sterling and usually the cost overruns of countries staging the games is well over 100 per cent. The cost overruns and debts incurred at the Athens Olympics is said to have substantially worsened the financial and economic crisis of Greece.
Here we hasten to note that there is a claim of a historical nexus between the Greeks and the Sinhalese. The Hellenes and the Sinhalese (Hellas) have a great deal in common according to some of the Munidasa Kumaratunga School of linguistics. Given such affinities with the Greeks, there is no reason not to follow their example even to an economic hell. The Greeks have the European Union to help and we have the Chinese.
Political Olympics
So, let’s start preparing for the Olympics 2020 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Magampura Olympic Village in Hambantota. We too must contribute to the evolution of Olympics. Let’s have a separate section for political Olympics. We have world champions in political jumps: long jump, high jump, hop-step-and-a-jump and pole vault not forgetting pick pocketing and bribing. Some of these star performers have already demonstrated their prowess in the jumps by jumping effortlessly from the UNP into the government ranks. Perhaps they may be too old for the 2020 Olympics but the encouraging feature is that their sons, daughters, nephews and nieces are taking to the family sports. What about costs? The Rajapaksas never worry about costs. If they succeed, well and good. If they fail the incoming suckers will face the music.
Excellent idea SAAR .. ( as the Pandangkarayas would say) – Let’s foreget about the daily miseries and airm for the gold like true PATRIOTS. Of course, our yellow skinned friends will lend us the money and send us plane-lodas of prison labour so we can all just watch them do all the work,. May be we can all help with the night shift, holding pandangs.
You must be joking ……….right?
Wrong! What else can we do better ?
There will be more than enough pandankarayos to carry the torch.
I request you not to say aything bad about Cabral. He knows all onions. Thats why he is there today. I hope he will do the needful to make Sri Lanka another lost paradise in near future. Please sell your all assets and vanish from the Lost Paradise
Yes get more IMF loans and stage Olympics in Hambantota. Excellent idea….:)
And also organize conga line dances with pretty indian actresses to satisfy the political princes.
Kos atta kabraal….well said..
What is this? Joke of the day? It will take centuries for Sri Lanka to host such an event, and for Sri Lankans to achieve that mentality to be able to do so.
The first thought by officials will be, how much they can syphon off into their pockets, and the world knows that by now.
This is Hilarious; guys who are already exploiting poor Ralahahamys and menikes,leave alone genocide of Tamils tallking about Olympic games.
ps
What about konde kawun making contest using pasiyala kadju girls!!!!
Well Greece never recovered financially after hosting the 2004 Olympics.
Now the country is near bankruptcy!
The shop keepers in LONDON are lamenting today that the LONDON OLYMPICS on now has not brought in any additional income per day.
Is this a RED warning for anyone to want to have an Olympics in Sri Lanka with the current state of the economy??
Canada is still trying to complete paying for the Montreal Olympics held some years back.
Are we even making enough off the Cricket???????
Hope sanity prevails………………
Differences is Canada, UK, are third world countries now. Sri Lanka is a wealthy country like China with a booming economy and money to burn. Just about every Lankan owns or drives a 4×4.Just read Palama Silva’s comment.
Len, I think you are talking through your backside. SL is still an under developed thirid world country. I know you people like to think your country is wealthy, but seriously, you must be dreaming in a cave. Driving an old second hand broken down 4×4 is not prosperty. SL is living on borrowed money and the economy is so bad that more than 80% of the population is living under the poverty line. Canada with Australia are two of the most livable countries in the world. London is hosting the Olympics. Sri Lanka cannot afford to hold a local egg and lime race.
[Greener pastures]
Have you ever come across the word sarcasm read between the lines before you get too excited and start huffing and puffing.
Not a bad idea. Canada hosted Olympics in Montreal and won zero medals. West used to laugh at China at Olympics and now China is having the last laughs!
So why not Sri Lanka?
How can you argue with genius P.Silva. I presume Silva is domicile in China?
Dear Gamini,
I do tend to believe that Hambantota and evirons will play a significant part in the world soon.Nothing with Olympics etc., and nothing with people but with its natural resources! Wait and see!
Great ! Lets all suffer in silence and look forward to that day.
I cannot think of any huge joke than this statement.
We always win gold mwdals for the thesft, thuggery, courrupted government bodies like police, judiciary system, conducting elections and misusing public funds
Our puppet officials will say ‘yes Sir’ for Olympics or even to hold winter olympics in Hanmabtota if the ego of the MR clan says so!! No one questionsthe aboslute stupidy of them! Rs 265 billion is more than 1/4th of National budget.. and its just an estimate!! In India original estimates were 1/10th of actual costs for Delhi games!!! Lets forget about all other national priorities and have stupid games to propel the MR clan ego !! This ego has not stopped…. H’tota cricket stadium decimated Lanka cricket and now we play cricket with empty stadiums. Still they talk of a sports city, asian junior games etc to dump multi billions for pure white elephants !!!!
Why? every one is so negative certainty the country can afford to host next summer and winter (can built a mega snow dome in Hambanthota) Olympics as well as next commonwealth games,Soccer World Cup.F1 racing and RWC.With the harsh economic condition prevailing in US and UK today both countries will be grateful Sri Lankan’s were to stage the Super Ball, NBA finales and FA Cup finales.
Len, I think you need to take your pills and rearrange your brain. SL is a poor country with beggars and poverty. it cannot afford to feed its own people or put basic infrastructure in the country. Are you mad?
[SL is a third world joke]
I will try to explain again please find the meaning to the words SARCASM, IRONY, MOCKERY and then read between the lines it may help to understand the comment. Do you really think any one with a sane mind will believe that I was serious NOW that will be IRONY.
not impossible heaven may bless those responsible for dreaming
just a dream. no harm dreaming. if you have 13 billions-2012 estimate good battalions of able men women dream justified. build the infra structure to justify the needs of society young will grow stronger fitter wiser to particpate in olympics not in 2020 but thing 2040 2060. pity i will be gone so will most of you but leave a good foundation so the future generation to venerate you
It is the first joke I heard, it is very good for the 22nd century. This is Bull…. .
Sri Lanka proudly send some contestants to the current Olympics but I am yet to see a single Sri Lankan taking part in the FINALS forgetting the medals. In a country which has no social security system for its citizens and no proper shelter, Sri Lanka may be able to hold Olympic Games in the year of 3500, if Sri Lanka still can keep it’s head above waters and India has not invaded and called this land the State of Sri Lanka. If anybody brings this stupid idea must be very ignorant about the economy of Sri lanka and it’s GDP growth rate and must be a day dreamer other than that no person with proper senses will ever try become a laughing stock of the day.
It is the first joke I heard, it is very good for the 22nd century. This is Bull…. .
Sri Lanka proudly send some contestants to the current Olympics but I am yet to see a single Sri Lankan taking part in the FINALS forgetting the medals. In a country which has no social security system for its citizens and no proper shelter, Sri Lanka may be able to hold Olympic Games in the year of 3500, if Sri Lanka still can keep it’s head above waters and India has not invaded and called this land the State of Sri Lanka. If anybody brings this stupid idea must be very ignorant about the economy of Sri lanka and it’s GDP growth rate and must be a day dreamer other than that no person with proper senses will ever try become a laughing stock of the day.
“Sri Lanka should Host……,” — The JOKE OF THE 21st CENTURY.
Good idea.
Let do it MR
In Sri lanak, nothing is done to rule. It will be a good idea for some friends of Mahinda and the band to make some quick money to be deposited in swiss banks.
The poor man will not even get a slice of bread to eat, but the rogues of the land will prosper. But this is typical of Sri lanka.
To even contemplate such is foolish. There are so many internal problems mostly lawlessness, and lack of genuine national minded direction towards stability and non corrupt governance in the country that need to be sorted out properly and many fear this will take at least another 50 years. There has to be mental, attitudinal changes and a genuine peaceloving, law abiding, tolerant, compassionate mindset established firmly for the better, before such activities like hosting the Olympics is even thought about. I seriously doubt this wish to host the Olympics will be granted by the international Olympic Committee though.
Sri Lankans are the least among Asians. They have been fighting sine 1948, it has been the longest civil war in whole Asia . They could not even get a single medal in London Olympics 2012. They hardly respect and value their own citizens. We should stop comparing Sri Lankans with rest of the world, because you won’t get much by comparing the animals with humans.