Should I take boys 5 and 8 to the Olympics in Brazil?

[Anonymous]

I'd like to take them but I've never been to the Olympics or Brazil so I'm not sure if it's practical. Are they too young to really appreciate the experience? Would it motivate them (my hope)? Or would it be too much of a logistical and safety nightmare for me (DH may or may not go)? Considering the expense, should we just watch it on tv like usual and go somewhere else for vacation? And then perhaps we'll go in 4 years when they're older and more mature. I don't really recall seeing any kids in the stands when watching the events on tv. WWYD?

[Anonymous]

I think you are setting yourself up for a large expense that will not have the impact you expect.

Go smaller. Kids like things that are hands on/feet in.

[Anonymous]

Plenty of kids go to the olympics, but I have to say this is one I would skip. Pretty sure it's going to be a shit show.

[Anonymous]

What do you want them to be "motivated" to do? Be better athletes? Set goals & have dreams?

[Anonymous]

No. Too many health issues and crime issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you want them to be "motivated" to do? Be better athletes? Set goals & have dreams?

OP here - Yes, motivated as athletes and life in general. I want them to see the rewards of physical and mental work, being focused and determined. Also to see the agony of defeat and good sportsmanship. Dream big and set goals. I think there could be a lot of good life lessons to witness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. Too many health issues and crime issues.

This.

Also, they are kind of young to appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you want them to be "motivated" to do? Be better athletes? Set goals & have dreams?

OP here - Yes, motivated as athletes and life in general. I want them to see the rewards of physical and mental work, being focused and determined. Also to see the agony of defeat and good sportsmanship. Dream big and set goals. I think there could be a lot of good life lessons to witness.

I am sure there are safer and easier ways to demonstrate all that...

[Anonymous]

I think the olympics are too big - and honestly too expensive - to take kids. You need tickets to everything and those can add up.

There are other ways to see athletic endeavors. Partially you have to know the sports that interest you. Gymnastics? We take the kids to GWU gymnastics meets. Basketball is easy. Some of the smaller sports- rowing or whatever - might be harder to find, but there are probably national championships.

I'd certainly try to identify other venues before tackling the Olympics.

[MikeL]

Anonymous wrote:I think the olympics are too big - and honestly too expensive - to take kids. You need tickets to everything and those can add up.

There are other ways to see athletic endeavors. Partially you have to know the sports that interest you. Gymnastics? We take the kids to GWU gymnastics meets. Basketball is easy. Some of the smaller sports- rowing or whatever - might be harder to find, but there are probably national championships.

I'd certainly try to identify other venues before tackling the Olympics.

+1
Good advice here.
Loads of good sports teams around - UofMD men's soccer, women's field hockey, numerous college basketball teams, etc

[Anonymous]

Just sign them up for Stoddert soccer already

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plenty of kids go to the olympics, but I have to say this is one I would skip. Pretty sure it's going to be a shit show.

Literally garbage is everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Brazil is a really fun place, but Rio will be MADNESS. imagine throngs of people, HOT, traffic everywhere, nothing will be easily accessible, everything will be 100x more expensive and its already really expensive, also its already a place where you risk getting mugged, assaulted and while I can imagine police presence will reduce violent crime, I guarantee plenty of petty street crime.

[Anonymous]

A 5 year old won't care if it's the olympics or a local DC united game...I wouldn't do it.

Take me instead! I need some motivation!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you want them to be "motivated" to do? Be better athletes? Set goals & have dreams?

OP here - Yes, motivated as athletes and life in general. I want them to see the rewards of physical and mental work, being focused and determined. Also to see the agony of defeat and good sportsmanship. Dream big and set goals. I think there could be a lot of good life lessons to witness.

Just watch the Olympics on tv. NBC will have about 5 million "feel good" stories on working hard and making the effort. Less than half their coverage seems to actually be events.

When you go to the Olympics, it isn't like you just walk up to the event you're going to see. You need to have tickets ahead of time and you frequently don't get the events you are most interested in. Medals/finals meets are the most difficult to get. If you stay home, you get to enjoy everything and all those "feel good" stories for motivation.