Have the Olympics been a blessing or a curse?

The Olympic Games are seen as an incredible opportunity the world over. For some countries, it can kickstart tourism. For others the lead-up means the government spends massive amounts on improving infrastructure such as better transport and building better hotels.

It's great for us tourists. But there is a darker side to the Games, which is that after the euphoria is over and the circus has left town, host cities have to deal with a range of problems from empty stadiums to a legacy of debt. Just ask Montreal. Or rather don't - instead, take a look at our frank dissection of what the Games have done to these cities - good and bad.