# Here we go again: Olympics may be moved rumors **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 12, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-we-go-again-olympics-may-be-moved-rumors/688299 "2014-05-12T20:02:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-we-go-again-olympics-may-be-moved-rumors/688299/1 "2014-05-12T20:02:19Z")
At least twice in the past decade, there have been stories of moving the Olympic games at the last minute. Athens in 2004 and Sochi this year. Sochi had several days of unflattering news coverage with photos of unfinished facilities all over twitter. So, now there’s stories that Rio may lose the Olympics, particularly if there are SNAFUs during the World Cup. [One such story](http://olympictalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/12/2016-olympics-move-to-moscow-report-rio-de-janeiro/) I usually figure these stories are just bored sportswriters trying to make news when there isn’t any. But, Rio does really seem to be way behind schedule with the Olympics. Of course, pulling the games would then leave many half finished structures, which would just rot. I’m sure NBC prefers the attractive time zone of Rio rather than London. But, is there any chance the games could get moved? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-we-go-again-olympics-may-be-moved-rumors/688299/2 "2014-05-12T20:26:46Z")
That kind of story pops up regularly about this time (remember Athens, anyone?). But somehow things come together well enough, even at the last minute. Problem is, where would you move the Games _to_? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-we-go-again-olympics-may-be-moved-rumors/688299/3 "2014-05-12T20:38:10Z")
In 2004, the rumors were that they’d be moved back to Sydney. The 2000 Sydney Olympics were considered a success. This time, the linked story says London was approached to see if they could host the games again. The Women’s World Cup, a much smaller even was actually moved from China to the previous host country, the USA, in 2003 due to the SARS virus outbreaks in China. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-we-go-again-olympics-may-be-moved-rumors/688299/4 "2014-05-12T21:33:01Z")
Looking at the way the story is phrased, I think this may be more of a CYA move by the IOC to cover any bases if Rio borks the World Cup and does not look like they can get thier shit together for 2016. The last thing the IOC needs is another PR fiasco like they had in Sochi, with a week of embarassing twitter feeds of athletes and sports reporters living in half finished structures. Worse for them to have it happen two Olympics in a row. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-we-go-again-olympics-may-be-moved-rumors/688299/5 "2014-05-12T23:49:37Z")
I read a comment somewhere that this is all standard: construction will be horribly behind schedule so when the day gets closer there can be no-bid emergency contracts to finish the facilities.