The Olympics isn't traditionally viewed as a political issue. In more recent years though, the heads of state, not just a random ambassador, of the main countries vying for the Olympics to be held in one of their cities have made their case to the International Olympics Committee. President Obama at first claimed he would not leave and worry about the Olympics when more important things like Healthcare were being hotly debated on home soil. In the end, President Obama did travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, made his argument, and left within four hours, stating that it is "always a worthwhile endeavor to promote and boost the United States," as a reason for going back on his early assertion to deal with what's going on at home.
This issue greatly interests me, because I would really love to get to see the Olympics, or have them be in a reachable distance (Chicago for instance). Obviously I am ecstatic that the 2012 Olympics are being held in London, because that's my home town! But that doesn't mean its cheap to go and watch. I was lucky enough to get to attend the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, and even though I don't remember a lot, I do remember it being one of the most exciting feelings being in the crowd. I had no idea what was going on as I was four, but the blur from the stadium is still in my head, and it would be really cool to experience that again, from a conscious perspective. I'm sure that the Brazilian Government will do a great job with the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, but they can't bring it closer to me. Maybe 2020 then...
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