Given the problems that plague the Olympics, do you think that Modern Olympics has lost its purpose?

I feel that modern Olympics has long lost its purposes that were namely to maintain peace, bringing countries together and to celebrate the achievements of the human body. Modern Olympics are now held mainly for entertainment and economic purposes.

Political conflicts have in several cases, as pointed out in the articles, led to partial or complete failure of the Olympic game. Countries have been shown to threaten host cities through boycotting the games. Examples are that of French president’s threatening to boycott the opening of the Beijing Olympic game unless China opens up talks with the Dalai Lama and frees political leaders. This example shows how the Olympics has failed it purpose to bring countries closer together. Instead, it has become a medium for countries to retaliate at other countries or to voice out their disagreements.

Cases of sportsmen illegally taking drugs to boost their performances have gone against the Olympics’ purpose to celebrate the achievements of the human body. Many sports also require external equipment such as tennis, badminton, etc. The performances of these athletes are largely dependent on their equipment. These athletes have also become somewhat like guinea pigs for the sportswear companies to test out their new products. As a result, modern Olympics have indeed lost its purposes.

In modern days, hosts cities take up the task of hosting the Olympics games with hidden agendas, one of which is to boost the country’s economy. The immediate effect of hosting the Olympics would bring a huge boost to the country’s tourism economy. As the Olympics game is broadcasted all over the world and under close attention by everyone, it can also boost the country’s reputation, potentially increasing the investments from other countries. As a result, the Olympics game would have its main objective shifted to economic gains for the host countries. The games still act as mediums for countries to get together to compete in sporting events, allowing athletes all over the world to interact with each other. In this case, even though the Olympic has changed its focus, it still maintains its original purposes. Thus, modern Olympics may not have lost its purposes yet.

In conclusion, I feel that the modern Olympic games have indeed lost its purposes, or at least shifted its main objective in hosting the games due to the problems plaguing the Olympic games.

-Jia Hao