Stop the fantastic bidding wars among nations - some of them virtually bankrupt themselves to showcase their country before the world. Let's hold the games at the same site every time, where they began - in Athens.
All nations that compete should assist in construction of one magnificent Olympic complex, with stadiums, housing facilities, transit needs and security built in - all to ensure that the crowds could be accommodated for a glorious and fitting extravaganza.
To keep all nations involved, let's select for each Olympics a co-host nation - possibly by a lottery. Let the co-host join with the Greek committee to plan, assume costs for opening and closing ceremonies and any other supplemental activities. These expenditures would not be anywhere near the cost of building their own Olympic environment.
Let the co-host bask in the glory of each Olympics. Let the world media, particularly in the United States, figure out how to televise most of the games live or with a minimum of delay so viewers don't get turned off because they know the results long before they appear on TV. That could alleviate what was the poorest U.S. ratings in Olympic history. With a lottery, we can eliminate the bribes evident in Salt Lake City's bid for the Winter Games.
The Olympics, originated to foster peace and harmony among nations, have been turned into events that feature protests, discrimination and, worst of all, terrorism - Mexico City, where hundreds were slaughtered in the streets . . .Munich, where Israeli athletes were massacred by Palestinian thugs . . .Atlanta, where a bomb was set off in the midst of a festive crowd . . . Seoul, where everyone carried an automatic weapon, turning the village into an armed camp . . . Sydney, where Aborigines protested the treatment they receive.
True, having the Olympics at one permanent site won't guarantee that this never happens again. But it would enable the best of facilities, transportation and, most important, security force - perhaps a NATO-type corps able to control any situation.
This proposal has as much chance of being adopted as Allen Iverson's getting a crew-cut and singing "White Christmas," but, perhaps with a new president, the IOC may start moving the Olympics out of the dark ages into the 21st century.
Hornstein is a retired Philadelphia public - relations executive.
