As the 2016 Summer Games open Friday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the multi-sport event is setting Olympic records for anxiety.

That's not easy to do, considering that all recent Olympic Games have been beset by worries about terrorism, financial problems, political conflicts, cheating or inadequate facilities.

Are the Olympic Games still worth the trouble?

The question is particularly relevant for Southern Californians as Los Angeles bids to host the 2024 Summer Games.

At their best, the summer and winter Olympics provide days of inspiring entertainment, a celebration of youthful achievement and teamwork and a healthy substitute for nations' military aggressions. Hosting the Games can fill cities with pride, prestige and economic benefits.

But are such ideals passe? Has the relaxation of rules requiring athletes to be amateurs cost the Olympics some of their charm? Has the commercialism that goes hand-in-hand with high costs spoiled things?

Putting on this year's Games is projected to cost $12 billion. As more than 10,000 athletes from more than 200 national teams gather in Rio, hopes that hosting the Olympics would confirm Brazil's arrival as a top-rung economy have been dashed by a severe recession, charges of government corruption, the failure to clean up the polluted bay being used for sailing and windsurfing and construction problems at the athletes' village and venues.

REPRINTED FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Photo credit: Republic of Korea