Quote: SmokeyTA "Well it is understandable that you wouldnt want an NRL team in PNG if someone had been selling it on the basis that it would solve infrastructure issues, crime, lawlessness, poverty, illiteracy, lack of access to proper medical facilities and corruption in Government, that clearly be silly. '"
This very argument was used by the OP in this very thread. Same OP who starts with the insults when anyone dares to question the validity of his claims.
Quote: SmokeyTA "However could it act as a rallying point of an RL mad nation? instill a bit of national pride in a fairly fractured nation? could it be used to help spread public health messages? and could PNG NRL players be used to spread positive messages about literacy? could it be used to provide positive role models for kids, helping them to avoid ever getting into criminal activity? '"
Yes, it could. I never said it couldn't, but I still say that PNG and its Government should achieve the targets set it by the international groups that provide it with aid before anyone thinks about putting an NRL team in.
Quote: SmokeyTA "The answer to these questions are a clear and obvious yes. '"
In your opinion maybe.......and I don't disagree in principle, but you are moving away from facts and now dealing in fiction.
Quote: SmokeyTA "On the practical side of things, is the running cost of an NRL team beyond a country with a GDP of just under $15Billion? obviously not'"
Let's look at the GDP shall we. That's a serious wedge......I wonder where it's all going? The average income of the 6.5 million + citizens of PNG is under US$1,000 year........I wonder why there are no roads, decent hospitals, educational establishments for all....surely it is the responsibility of the Governement to supply these, but somehow, this GDP od 15 Billion is slipping through the net. Could it be that international investors ensure they make a fortune with the help of a few politicians.
Quote: SmokeyTA "Is PNG any more lawless or corrupt than a country like Russia, a country perfectly capable of holding a national football competition of a comparable size to the NRL, of competining in a trans-national club competition many many many many times the size of the NRL, and hosting an international football tournament which is the biggest team sport competition in the entire world? No, it isnt.'"
Nope...but we are talking about a nation that is violent as well as being third world when it comes to infastructure, healthcare, education, communications etc.....we are not talking about a country where those things are not an issue.
BTW....on the Russia front. I have a mate who freelances in Outside Broadcasting. He has been all over the world, covering major events.....and he says the most harrowing and frustrating job was the Champions League final between United and Chelsea. He did the Commonwealth games, which he described as brilliant and luxurious when compared to getting his rig to Moscow..........the security in Russia was the tightest he has ever witnessed and that includes 3 Olympic games and 2 winter olympics, an asian games and the IPL Cricket.
So as you asked, I wouldn't want an ESL team in Russia either
