Wretched Excess - Doubled!

Well, now that one of the two quadrennial exercises in wretched excess has ended, it's time to look back and consider how everything worked out. I think, in the spirit of the Modern Olympics (Higher, Faster, More Expensive), I should present my own medal winners.
Herewith:
The Bronze - Goes to Samsung of India, which is now running television ads featuring Indian Medallists - from the Sydney Olympics. The ads wish them success in their quest for gold in Athens. It is to be hoped that the athletes did not schedule their Athenaid using Samsung's calendar. After looking at their medal results (one, silver), perhaps they did. If they show up next week, perhaps they can stage a sort of Mini-Games. Just for Samsung (of India).
The Silver - To the Director of the Greek Olympic Committee.
For the aplomb with which he assures us that the 2004 Olympics will turn a profit wigthin a very few years, as money pours in from lease income from the many fine venues created for the Games. I guess there is profit to be made from swim meets at the Natatorium. And then, the Velodrome is pretty sure to be a real cash cow.
Now for The Gold! - The Gold goes to the Greek Minister of Finance. For his clarity of thought in pointing out that the Olympics will cause an immediate improvement in the Greek national budget: for Next Year; because there won't be any Olympic Games next year. This means an immediate savings of around two or three billion dollars, which is what the country has been spending yearly for the last several years. A total (guesstimated at around thirteen bazillion US$) which approximately equals the annual GDP of Greece.

Sadly, the other Quadrennial Wretched Excess is nowhere near its end. It's barely begun in fact. It is scheduled to finish on November 2, or as soon thereafter as we can manage. However, since the 2000 Presidential Election is only now being laid to rest (a necessity, so that we can focus on this year's election), it might be time to start worrying about the schedule for the current Celebration of Democracy.
And be sure to keep a paper record of your vote.