The Olympic Legacy.

With the Olympics gone, we can only now relish how exciting the games were but for the future Olympics to be successful, a lasting legacy is needed. Considering how the Olympics touch the lives of various people, be it athletes, local people, families and the working people finding employment as a result of the Olympics; it's important to analyze how all these people benefit from the games. It would be unfair if only one segment of the people benefit at the expense of others because the essence of the games is bringing different people of different cultures together under the banner of sport.

Well that's how the modern day Olympic Games try to achieve. With all those billions spent on building and refurbishing the venues, what happens to them after the games? We all know how the ones from Athens became white elephants and some from Beijing as well. How will London fare? The organizers have done a pretty good job in making sure the venues are bought by private entities who will use them efficiently and make sure that legacy of the games is ensured. I think the only venue which hasn't been entirely settled, is the main athletics venue which is being sought after by football clubs. The main problem has been the quest by these bidders is to remove the athletics track but this goes against the spirit of the Olympic legacy. I don't know how the organizers will do with this situation but hopefully the right decision is made, that is, keep the athletics track.

Most of the venues of the London games were in East London, a part of the city which is multi-cultural and also deprived. I don't know if the games brought any economic benefits to the local people and also if their livelihoods are going to improve going on forward. Hopefully they will leave a positive mark. I still believe with all the billions which are exchanged as a result of the Olympics, more money should be poured in the pockets of the athletes. It's sad that some athletes are crowned champions but at the same time struggle to afford a decent living befitting champions. Some do take other odd jobs to supplement their incomes.

Of course some of the athletes are just amateurs but that doesn't mean that they should live from hand to mouth when big businesses are striking it big. The commercialization of the games should be great for the athletes, pocket-wise, if you want to make sure the legacy of the games is one to envy for years to come. People should keep in mind that it takes years to make one a great Olympian hence they should remember that one also needs to feed themselves and their families. The work they put in is comparable to that which is put in by professional sportspersons.

There is an interesting research by Delloite which says that the host country's Stock Exchange performs by more than twice the world average. With the recession, Eurozone crisis, low optimism and austerity, are the London games going to follow the script? Time will tell.

Let's not forget about the Paralympic games which will start in about two weeks in London. It is also important to celebrate the successes of those who are destitute in our society for the Olympic legacy to encompass the aspirations of all members of the society.

There's just one  problem I have with the Olympics. This is it's association with the religion of the ancient Greeks. Today the Olympics bring together many people of different faiths and it is important for them to reflect so. I doubt if 99% of the athletes know of this ancient Greek religion. Come-on guys, make these games more modern than they are now.