[OFF TOPIC] General Chat

[Monzanator 4,768]

Not to mention most countries invest in their strong disciplines, not to ones where their presence is non-existent.

 

Investing in winter sports in Africa is as feasible as investing in handball in USA

[LDOG 2,468]

1 minute ago, Federer91 said:

Because our american friend brought it up and said it's because of money that black people (or non-europeans) don't participate in winter sports. I think i made it clear, that my opinion is it's because of lack of interest and not money related. If there is interest in new countries, they would cope and find a way to build a following/ program / participation. They just choose to invest money in summer sports, which are more traditional.

"Interest" is not something that can be generated out of nowhere. People from x place have interest in playing a sport mostly when they see there are opportunities for them in said sport. 

 

Those countries invest in summer sports because they are cheaper in general. Why do you think football is so popular in almost any country? because it's incredibly cheap to play, you just need a ball and a large enough space anywhere. And because there are many opportunities to become professional in that sport. On the other hand, other summer sports like golf for example aren't exactly popular in poor countries because equipment is very expensive and because opportunity to become pro is more limited, especially if you live far away from the main hubs of pro tours. Same goes for winter sports. 

 

So, in short, yes, it is largely about money.  

[Olympian1010 8,230]

26 minutes ago, Monzanator said:

@Olympian1010 90% of annual malaria deaths happen in Africa and that's counted in millions and you want support for building ice rinks there? In what kind of a world do you live in?   Africa hasn't solved its health & water supply issues and you talk about ice rinks. Africa need fresh water to drink not to waste it for ice rinks.

Wild Polio was just cured in Africa, and there are many people working on clean energy and water solutions for Sub-Saharan Africa. I would agree our focus should be there, but it wouldn’t hurt to introduce some more feasible winter sports in Africa. Dry curling rinks, temporary ice rinks in big cities, etc.

[LDOG 2,468]

Tbf you are all talking about "Africa" like it's a giant monolithic state or something. There are vastly different realities in Morocco, South Africa, Somalia, Congo...

[Monzanator 4,768]

39 minutes ago, LDOG said:

Tbf you are all talking about "Africa" like it's a giant monolithic state or something. There are vastly different realities in Morocco, South Africa, Somalia, Congo...

Malaria remains a common unsolved problem for the entire continent and there hasn't been a 1% response to it compared to COVID but of course COVID has impacted the rich modern world countries so it can't be ignored like a third world disease.

[Grassmarket 4,028]

8 hours ago, Monzanator said:

Malaria remains a common unsolved problem for the entire continent and there hasn't been a 1% response to it compared to COVID but of course COVID has impacted the rich modern world countries so it can't be ignored like a third world disease.

There is a solution for malaria - DDT spraying.  But rich modern countries have forced a ban on it because it kills birds.    So children in poor countries must die to protect birdlife.

[heywoodu 16,004]

10 hours ago, Olympian1010 said:

Wild Polio was just cured in Africa, and there are many people working on clean energy and water solutions for Sub-Saharan Africa. I would agree our focus should be there, but it wouldn’t hurt to introduce some more feasible winter sports in Africa. Dry curling rinks, temporary ice rinks in big cities, etc.

But for what purpose other than "it'd be fun and fun is good and healthy"? Because there are way cheaper and more feasible options for that, one can imagine.

[Monzanator 4,768]

6 hours ago, Grassmarket said:

There is a solution for malaria - DDT spraying.  But rich modern countries have forced a ban on it because it kills birds.    So children in poor countries must die to protect birdlife.

Yeah, that doesn't surprise me. For rich modern countries animal life is more important than human life after all.

[Vojthas 949]

1 hour ago, Monzanator said:

For rich modern countries animal life is more important than human life after all.

Let's be honest - human is the most destroyful spiece on the planet, the only one which Earth wouldn't regret if extincted.

[Grassmarket 4,028]

1 minute ago, Vojthas said:

Let's be honest - human is the most destroyful spiece on the planet, the only one which Earth wouldn't regret if extincted.

Personally I wouldn’t mind if courgettes/zucchini - cucurbita peto - went extinct