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2014 Sochi Olympics

15K views 179 replies 30 participants last post by  Mahlerian 
#1 ·
Welcome to The Official Olympics Thread (TOOT).

Anything goes, except nasty toilet stories and Putin bare-chest pics. :cool:
 
#5 ·
Personally, I am not a fan of such political measures, but after a while of following closely the preparations for these Olympic games, I think it would be best to boycott them altogether - because of their enormous cost (not only in money) to the ordinary man. Of course, an event like this is always going to cause some inconvenience to the population of the city where it is taking place (hightened security and all), but people being evicted out of their houses because of the construction, construction employees forced to give up their salaries into the "Olympic fund", the nature of this unique place destroyed, people not being able to enter the city at will (during the Games every citizen of Sochi will be issued a special permit, stating that he indeed lives in the city and people without such permits will be deported or not be allowed to enter at all) - all that is simply too much.

Add to that the huge financial cost of the Games, which with the budget of USD51 000 000 are going to be the most expensive games in history - paid out of taxes of course, and that in a country, which unlike the US, Canada or Italy, is pretty much a third-world nation outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Add to that all the trouble and inconvenience (to the ordinary man again) caused by the ""Olympic fire marathon" ceremony: traffic stopped in whole cities for days while that marathon is taking place in them, huge security measures etc...

Add to that the whole budget farce - millions that were supposed to be used for construction, that landed in the pockets of businessmen and government officials instead, with the actual construction done in the cheapest way possible. To be honest, I will be surprised if no accidents happen during these games: if one of the structures does not collapse, or the skiing track has not been properly secured...

Shortly, it is simply a major show-off - and the ordinary man has to pay for it.

Of course I don't think the world's politicians or media talk about this a lot - they are more concerned about gay rights than about those of the average Russian.

Apart from that - good luck to the Americans and the Germans, the Canadians and the Finns, and to all the other nations traditionally good at winter sports, in beating the arrogant Russian Bear.
 
#13 ·
....Add to that the huge financial cost of the Games, which with the budget of USD51 000 000 are going to be the most expensive games in history - paid out of taxes of course, and that in a country, which unlike the US, Canada or Italy, is pretty much a third-world nation outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg....
Didn't you forget to add 000 ? :D
 
#6 ·
Some have voiced concerns that the athletes might not be safe in Sochi, given the threat of terrorism. I'm wondering, though: if you're practicing downhill, ski jumping or bobsleigh on a regularly basis, how great can your concern about safety be?
 
#9 ·
Well, I have seen a bit of the opening ceremony. Except, that when I got online to watch it, it was right at the moment when the German team walked out, and it would be better if I had not seen it at all. It made me mad to see those strong, beautiful, proud, athletic men and women forced to wear costumes better suited for clowns or imitations of tropical parrots, in order to make a political statement. The powers that be seem truly hellbent on crushing the last bit of dignity and self-worth out of those people. Darn them for spoiling my Friday evening! :devil:
 
#11 ·
there was a lot to enjoy in the opening ceremony .... even if it dragged on for what seemed like the whole day. I especially liked the spinning ballet dancers towards the end.

and by gum, that Anna had a powerful set of lungs singing the Olympic anthem

Well done for putting on a remarkable show!
 
#12 ·
Glad to hear, from the other side of the pond, that no terrorist attack occurred at the ceremony. Now let's just hope for the best concerning safety for the next events...
 
#19 · (Edited)
In Russia today, many still dismiss the idea that he was gay, and that he also committed suicide. Although the latter has still been debated, with the former they seem to dismiss too many actual pieces of evidence to my judgment. :p

I've heard theories that he may have been transgender too... I guess we'll never know...
 
#25 · (Edited)
^^^^^

Indeed, you have the advantage of a very long tradition in that field - as depicted by Averkamp, in the 1600s:

Art Painting Paint Snow Sky


:)

Denmark has won one set of medals in the entire history of Winter Olympics, and to many here, the highlight this year will be curling (I hear that the Canadians are quite interested in that very minor sport too. But as long as it remains a discreet sport, our chances are bigger :)).
 
#32 ·
Just watched the replay/conclusion and I wholly agree. Fantastic competition this year.
 
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#33 · (Edited)
Wow, I almost couldn't believe this. I watched a rerun of the Figure Skating Team Finals this evening with parents, and they told me ahead of time that they all used Russian composers. But I did NOT expect a team to use GLAZUNOV almost ENTIRELY for their routine, AND to get SILVER MEDAL in the process!!! WOOT CANADIANS!!! :D :clap:

 
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