The True Costs of the OlympicsEvery two years the Olympic Games take place on the world stage. People are mesmerized as they cheer for their home team. Whether it's the summer games or the winter games, for two weeks, every two years, people are inundated with games. But many may fail to realize the competition and game behind the Games. This is the never-ending game of the bidding process and subsequent creation and construction of new Olympic venues as newly selected host cities prepare for their opportunity to host the Olympics. But this little-known game has only a select few winners, and their prize is not a medal, but rather a huge financial gain. There are many losers, and they are the most vulnerable inhabitants of the city, the poor; they're not just losing a medal, they're losing their homes. It is clear that the Olympic Games are popular and have worldwide support, but one cannot ignore the lead-up to the games where host cities spend exorbitant amounts of taxpayer dollars. redevelop areas of the city which lead to numerous forced evictions. While some might acknowledge that some people are indeed displaced by new construction, and that there is a lot of money spent upfront on gaming, they might counter that the monetary and social benefits gained later will be enormous. But this article will refute such claims by providing examples that demonstrate that the often claimed financial gains are rarely realized and that the social impact is far from rewarding. Finally, although any change is unlikely, two proposals will be put forward that could limit some of the negative impacts brought by the Olympic Games, namely creating a permanent Olympic site, or holding the games less frequently, on a rotational basis. base,......middle of paper......cive to host winter games, and the other area suitable for summer games. Since the International Olympic Committee has the funding and final say on the location, it should pay the costs associated with the creation and construction of a permanent Olympic site. There could also be a fee paid by each nation to participate in the Olympic Games, and this money could be used to maintain the facilities. As stated above, the International Olympic Committee makes a large amount of money simply by selling broadcast and licensing rights, and the income generated from this could be used to pay for all the other costs associated with maintaining the games. However, the main problem with this proposal is that any nations that would not have been chosen would have contested the decision. Cities and nations compete vigorously for a chance to host the Olympics, and this