Lottery Funding & Olympics

[User62651]

No it's not. It's overly simplistic twaddle. It conveniently ignores all the positive effects of a successful sporting event. Including the "feel good factor" that results in an increase in spending by the Public, thereby increasing tax revenues.

How someone feels about something isn't twaddle, it's how they feel! You're untangible 'Feel good factor' is great if your well off middle class and life is rosy, doesn't mean sod all for huge swathes of people in poverty or in poor health with more pressing concerns or aren't into sport for whom Olympics mean very little or nothing at all.....different people different perspectives.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Lottery money is not govt money. If lottery money went to the NHS then govt would reduce the money given to it. That is reality. Govt has plenty of money, it how they choose to spend it that needs to be analysed.

 

[User62651]

So what's the next step ? - double the obscure sports spend to over £700 million to get ahead of team USA in Tokyo 2020 and be top of the medal table at last, wow what a feel good factor that would create! It'd be so worth it........NOT.

 

[Oohmeoldbacksknackered]

No it's not. It's overly simplistic twaddle. It conveniently ignores all the positive effects of a successful sporting event. Including the "feel good factor" that results in an increase in spending by the Public, thereby increasing tax revenues.

That's 'feel good' in this country.

But is it seen that way by poorer nations? How would that sort of financial backing affect all the African nations when it comes to training their runners? Or maybe it could fund their equestrian team. How did Ethiopia do in the dancing horses events?

Also look at how good the after effects have been in Greece. It's difficult to argue your case if you look at their economy.

You say I'm over simplistic.

Absolutely, and proud of it.

I think the less we over complicate our initial stance, the more chance we have of getting a reasonable solution. If we start from a muddled mess, it's only going to get worse. I will never have the final answer, but I'm good at asking stupid questions. Because every now and then, one of them helps someone more intelligent than me make a sensible point.

I'm afraid that I'm not convinced yours is it, this time.

 

[bluewolf]

That's 'feel good' in this country.

But is it seen that way by poorer nations? How would that sort of financial backing affect all the African nations when it comes to training their runners? Or maybe it could fund their equestrian team. How did Ethiopia do in the dancing horses events?

Also look at how good the after effects have been in Greece. It's difficult to argue your case if you look at their economy.

You say I'm over simplistic.

Absolutely, and proud of it.

I think the less we over complicate our initial stance, the more chance we have of getting a reasonable solution. If we start from a muddled mess, it's only going to get worse. I will never have the final answer, but I'm good at asking stupid questions. Because every now and then, one of them helps someone more intelligent than me make a sensible point.

I'm afraid that I'm not convinced yours is it, this time.

Ok, so let's simplify it some more. How about we all take all the time and money that we spend on golf and devote them to the helpless in our own community? How much better would the world be if we did that? Or, do you prefer to let other people make these decisions, then criticise them?

 

[Oohmeoldbacksknackered]

Lottery money is not govt money. If lottery money went to the NHS then govt would reduce the money given to it. That is reality. Govt has plenty of money, it how they choose to spend it that needs to be analysed.

Absolutely. I totally agree.

But Lottery money could go to more local charities that fund local stuff (no I have no idea what at this point). It could go to private schools for underprivileged / disabled kids.

It could maybe fund state school kids to independent schools.

Again, mad ramblings, but I think it's worth mentioning at a higher level before the next huge lump is given out to some reasonably well off people - I mean, how poor are our rowers and other boaty people? How much funding do they 'need' or is it just making their lives a tad more comfortable? (just one example picked at random - I have nothing against big, butch, muscular, fit men - apart from totally reasonable jealousy, of course)

Can they raise the sponsorship themselves and not rely on handouts?

Worth a discussion?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

So what's the next step ? - double the obscure sports spend to over £700 million to get ahead of team USA in Tokyo 2020 and be top of the medal table at last, wow what a feel good factor that would create! It'd be so worth it........NOT.

The amount spent is probably restricted by lottery ticket sales. They have plateaued, perhaps reduced, so I doubt more will be piled in on a major scale. There is also a criteria to meet in that you must be challenging for a medal, likely to win a medal in future years. That alone will restrict which sports receive money. It is quite a professional set up.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Absolutely. I totally agree.

But Lottery money could go to more local charities that fund local stuff (no I have no idea what at this point). It could go to private schools for underprivileged / disabled kids.

It could maybe fund state school kids to independent schools.

Again, mad ramblings, but I think it's worth mentioning at a higher level before the next huge lump is given out to some reasonably well off people - I mean, how poor are our rowers and other boaty people? How much funding do they 'need' or is it just making their lives a tad more comfortable? (just one example picked at random - I have nothing against big, butch, muscular, fit men - apart from totally reasonable jealousy, of course)

Can they raise the sponsorship themselves and not rely on handouts?

Worth a discussion?

I hope none of my money ever sends people to independent schools. They can sink or swim on their own.

Lottery money goes to lots of good causes, not just elite athletes. It builds many facilities for sports clubs, lots to charitable causes. Olympic money is just part of it.

Sponsorship doesn't cover enough, hence why we didn't win many medals in the past. I could name gold medal winners from GB when growing up as they were so rare. Even silver medallists were heroes, not any more.

 

[Oohmeoldbacksknackered]

Ok, so let's simplify it some more. How about we all take all the time and money that we spend on golf and devote them to the helpless in our own community? How much better would the world be if we did that? Or, do you prefer to let other people make these decisions, then criticise them?

I donate as much money as I can afford without affecting my reasonably comfortable lifestyle - but I give it to cancer, not homelessness (my choice.

I do far too little to help my fellow man, but then I am a selfish bugger at heart. But I do do my best to help me, mine, my friends and theirs. And if I can help someone at little or no inconvenience to myself I'll give it a go.

I'm not saying don't spend any money on it, I'm asking if there should be more balance.

If I spent £5k a year on holidays and nothing on donations I'd feel guilty. If I gave all my money to charity and couldn't afford a holiday for my family I'd feel a whole lot worse.

I normally settle on a £1000-£1500 holiday and a small standing order to appease my guilt.

 

[Oohmeoldbacksknackered]

I hope none of my money ever sends people to independent schools. They can sink or swim on their own.

Lottery money goes to lots of good causes, not just elite athletes. It builds many facilities for sports clubs, lots to charitable causes. Olympic money is just part of it.

Sponsorship doesn't cover enough, hence why we didn't win many medals in the past. I could name gold medal winners from GB when growing up as they were so rare. Even silver medallists were heroes, not any more.

Again, I absolutely agree.

But £275,000,000?

Up from £60M ten years ago?

Just seems unbalanced...

 

[pendodave]

Our olympic funding model :

1. Take cash from poor people via dubious state sponsored gambling scheme.
2. Give it to rich people doing niche sports
3. Sit back and allow middle class people to congratulate themselves on feeling good.

It works. But, come on.....

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Our olympic funding model :

1. Take cash from poor people via dubious state sponsored gambling scheme.
2. Give it to rich people doing niche sports
3. Sit back and allow middle class people to congratulate themselves on feeling good.

It works. But, come on.....

Do you do comedy clubs? Ha ha. Not being sarky, it sounds like a classic opening to a set about the Olympics

 

[pendodave]

Do you do comedy clubs? Ha ha. Not being sarky, it sounds like a classic opening to a set about the Olympics

No offence taken.

Tbh, I find this type of discussion a bit dispiriting. Most people are so black and white. Binary seems to be the default position. In reality, everything is more complicated than at first sight, and normally I work on the basis that it's those at the bottom who are being shafted, whatever the headlines say.

Plus I know before I've even opened the browser that the normal suspects will be toeing the establishment line without ever looking outside their own gilded cages.

 

[fundy]

http://qz.com/761234/us-olympic-cha...ndorsements-and-parades-and-a-hefty-tax-bill/

maybe we should take the american approach

 

[Deleted member 16999]

No offence taken.

Tbh, I find this type of discussion a bit dispiriting. Most people are so black and white. Binary seems to be the default position. In reality, everything is more complicated than at first sight, and normally I work on the basis that it's those at the bottom who are being shafted, whatever the headlines say.

Plus I know before I've even opened the browser that the normal suspects will be toeing the establishment line without ever looking outside their own gilded cages.

Are you feeling dizzy sat so high up in your ivory tower?

Maybe we can target the tax dodgers or the criminals and give that to sport or better still cut our overseas funding and look after our own,

It's not a political issue, it's British sportsmen and women receiving British money with a measureable outcome, some of the working class kids from poor backgrounds who have a bit of talent can now dream and reach the Olympics, I've never heard so many athletes single out the lottery funding thanking them for allowing to train without worry.

 

[Alucard]

All typed whilst living abroad, can't help but see some irony in your stance, yes I except you will have paid your whack while living here, but saying how the present Government should be spent while no longer contributing fully...........

You cheeky git, I pay tax to the UK my family lives in the UK and I have as much right to say what I think and have my opinion about how lottery money is spent in the country I was born in as anyone of the people that choose to live there.

I play the lottery from time to time and I vote in the UK too if I want to.
I have more than contributed to the UK and I qualify for a full pension there too.
This is my opinion and it is as valid as yours or anyone elses, you dont have to agree but I think that the lottery money could be better spent.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

You cheeky git, I pay tax to the UK my family lives in the UK and I have as much right to say what I think and have my opinion about how lottery money is spent in the country I was born in as anyone of the people that choose to live there.

I play the lottery from time to time and I vote in the UK too if I want to.
I have more than contributed to the UK and I qualify for a full pension there too.
This is my opinion and it is as valid as yours or anyone elses, you dont have to agree but I think that the lottery money could be better spent.

But it's ok for you to accuse the athletes of not paying back, I acknowledge you've done your bit, but it's wrong to accuse others of not doing theres.

 

[bluewolf]

No offence taken.

Tbh, I find this type of discussion a bit dispiriting. Most people are so black and white. Binary seems to be the default position. In reality, everything is more complicated than at first sight, and normally I work on the basis that it's those at the bottom who are being shafted, whatever the headlines say.

Plus I know before I've even opened the browser that the normal suspects will be toeing the establishment line without ever looking outside their own gilded cages.

:rofl:

I love the way you've complained about people viewing things in too binary a fashion, and then viewed the debate in such a shallow monochromatic manner that you've become the perfect example for your own complaint... Priceless irony....

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

J
The medal table over the years has been influenced by some countries condoning enhancement of their athletes performance using drugs

Are you including or excluding GB from this?

 

[Liverbirdie]

I think it depends on what the 275 mill goes on.

If 25 mill goes direct to funding the 1-10% of GB participants at the top, but 90% plus goes on facilities that not only the participants can use, but also the local community, then great.

When I have travelled in Scotland, I see lots of investment in little towns and villages with what looks like newish sports facilities, which is good.

However, if most of it is just doled out to help the participants and just spent on their specialist training facilities and programmes, then not used as well.

It pains me when Liverpool city council hike up the price to use their pitches for footy teams, when the premiership (and in turn the FA) is so awash with money.