Is the World really ready for Istanbul 2020 Olympics?
Have you ever been in Istanbul?
Well, if you are from some western world country, Istanbul may first seem to you very exotic, mystic, oriental but yet very modern. With more than 15 million population, Istanbul sure is one of the most hectic, chaotic, loud, and crowded city in the world. As a habitant of this city, I know that Istanbul is ready (mentally only) for Olympics, but my question remains as if the rest of the world is ready for it?
As a Turk who lives in Istanbul, I will share the topics which noone from this city likes to talk about. So, fasten your seat belts, I am gonna let you take a different look at Istanbul:
Traffic
There are three main highways in Istanbul: 1) TEM - TransEuropeanMotorway (E6), 2) E5 - Londra Asfalti, and finally 3) Coastal Road (Sahil Yolu). Given the fact that there are more that 2,5 million vehicles in Istanbul, we can easily say that there is a constant "traffic jam" at all times. Most of drivers are very hostile, and even can be life threatening. Noone cares and respects about the others' rights, speed limits, U turns, and especially the pedestrians. Not to mention the smuggled diesel from Iraq which makes your vehicle smoke like a chimney. Taxis and cabs try to rip you off, if and when realised that you are a tourist. A very important and hidden pitfall you may have is that, most of the signs and labels are in Turkish, so if you cant speak the language, good luck getting around in the city.
Food
Turks use a lot of lam in their foods, so if you are not used to it, be ready to spend long hours in the toilet. Make sure that you do not eat out of the street, because most probably that kebab, or burger you had was made of donkey meat. Sea food can also be tricky sometimes especially sea mussels. Marmara sea is heavily contaminated, thus eating sea mussels in Istanbul is one thing that I would stay away.
Culture
Turks are neither European, nor Arabian but the culture is almost paradoxal in between. There is a huge population with strong Islamic background to the extend where they would outloudly cry for Sheria System. However, there is also a part of population who thinks and tries to live like an aristocrat with blue blood. People are rather sentimental than logical, to its utmost extend. Huge violation ratings to women, child abuse, and a high rating of rape.
Economy
Since the year 2000, the economy seems like very strong. However, we all know that Turkish ecenomy wheels are turning with hot liquidity due to its highest interest rate given to the foreign investments. Most of the economists agree that Turkish economy is a huge bubble which will burst soon.
Autocratic Government
Current goverment bans alcohol, smoking, holding hands, kissing, deciding which type of bread you can eat, how many kids you must do. So, if and when the Olympics take place in Istanbul, brace yourselves because the government may elminate some of the sports branches in 2020.
Sprots Ethics
Doping, game fixing, are also the biggest threats
We have been forced to dream on the acceptance into European Union for the past fiftytwo years. My personal opinion is that it looks like we will be dreaming on for another fifty years when EU does not exist anymore. The same thing can be applied for Olympics. 2000, 2004, 2012 and now we are running fro 2020. Again, we are having a wet dream about 2020 Olympics. Main setbacks are like above mentioned ones.
Call me cynical, but if I were IOC Comittee, I would not let Istanbul get the Olympics. Because it is not Istanbul, but the world is not ready for it....
This is a guys game called "The Long Donkey" which is very popular in Turkey
<a href="http://www.hypersmash.com">www.hypersmash.com</a>
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