Olympics lose lustre as potential hosts ditch Games dream

Click HERE (ST Sat Feb 25 Page C11 Sports Section)
Useful example of a country that bucks the trend of wanting to host the most prestigious sporting games in the world...
"Budapest's decision on Wednesday to withdraw its bid for the 2024 Summer Games"

The argument is that a lot of the infrastructure, esp those concerning sports, fall into disrepair after the Games is over, and they are expensive to maintain, hence the term 'white elephants'. Beijing's Bird Nest Stadium is a good example. built specially for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"Just six months after Rio's US$20 billion (S$28.1 billion) Games ended, several of the expensively built venues are struggling to find new occupants."

But dont forget the other side of the picture...the Games help stimulate infrastructure development. While those concerning sports may become white elephants after the Games (even though u can argue locals can also use them and this may spur interest in sport and health), those infrastructure concerning transport (e.g. building new airport or subway or buses) will continue to benefit the locals long after the Games is over....and Barcelona is a good example of a backward city that has been successfully rejuvenated by the Barcelona Olympics into a major city some decades ago.
"The IOC has pointed out the transformational changes that its events can bring to cities, usually citing the impact on 1992 host Barcelona, which regenerated its waterfront."

Qns:

1.  Considering the money involved, should developing countries be allowed to host major 

sporting events? (Cam. 2016)

2. Does sport merit the vast sums of money that are spent on it? (Cam. 2008)

3. Hosting major sporting events creates more problems than benefits. Do you agree? (Cam. 2005)