Heard a discussion on NPR this lunchtime and I am appalled at the following:

for the Winter Olympics, being held in Salt Lake City, Utah, over $50 million extra has been spent on security.

There are 10,000 security personnell;

4,500 military pesonnell;

9,000 credentialed media personnell;

4,000 non-credentialed media personnell;

tickets for the opening ceremonies cost $700 per person; and,

there only 3,500 athletes.

There are claims it will be the second "Calgary" bringing an international flair and expansion to the region, etc.; they even have an Olympic Rodeo planned, as they had in Calgary.

I know it would have caused major economic problems if they'd been cancelled; we've seen the effects of its planning, next door, here, in Wyoming, but...

I think it is obscene to be spending the money it takes, plus it seems it is an event only for professionals and the moneyed, or those who have governments which pay their way.

They are talking about having M-16s on the ground, F-whatever's flying overheard, stopping all commercial flights during the Opening Ceremony, etc., all for this? I know the athletes, spectators, etc. have to be protected, but when does cost outweigh effect?

I don't think we should have the Olympics this year, mainly because of the above and also out of respect for the victims of Sept. 11th and their families and anyone who is involved in the current "war."

kat