It’s always a special year when it’s an Olympic year, and 2014 is no different; the winter games come this February. As preparation sets in for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, there have been growing concerns of terrorist threats. You don’t even have to follow up with the news regularly to know there have been growing concerns for the safety of our athletes entering Russian soil.
Among other concerns of the safety of American athletes entering Sochi, in a statement on Sunday, Jan. 26, Anatoly Pakhomov, the mayor of Sochi, announced, “There are no gay people in the city.” Already tipping officials and other countries off with that comment, Pakhomov reassures incoming athletes they are welcome at the Games, just as long as they “respect Russian law and don’t impose their habits on others.”
Contrary to Pakhomov’s statement, Russian Statesman Boris Nemtsov declared there are several gay bars in Sochi.
BBC news covered the interview with Pakhomov which disturbed the rest of the world for the following weeks and upcoming days leading to the opening of the Winter Games on Russian soil.
The following day, ESPN’s Keith Olbermann dubbed the Sochi mayor the “worst person in the sports world.” The ESPN host added what many have been thinking on the area of where the 2014 Games take place this year. Olbermann led to the conclusion that this year we may watch “the saddest and most fear-stained Olympics unfold.”
Not only is the ignorance of the mayor’s comments shattering opposing countries' opinions upon getting ready to settle on their grounds come Feb. 7th, but even more controversial news surrounds Sochi during the games.
In recent news, journalists worldwide are expected to take a back seat in pulling Olympic coverage in Sochi during the time.
Also, the estimated $50 billion in President Vladimir Putin’s “construction project” on the Black Sea will most likely be made public during the start of the Games. Most Russian media organizations have ignored and avoided comment on the project in apprehension of the negative reaction while the Olympics take place in Russia.
While news coverage continues on upcoming Sochi, the fact remains that this year’s winter Olympics has the nation holding their breath until the games begin.
Students offered their opinions on the subject. “I know that if my kid was in the Olympics, he would not be going,” Angela Florimo said.
Greyson Cole commented, “Russia is very strict. The fact [that] they stopped adoptions between Russia and the US disgusts me. They are more concerned about their ‘government’ succeeding than the people they govern.” She finished by adding, “And the US should not participate in these Olympics.”
Despite the tense controversy this year over the Winter Games, most closely with the ties between Russia and the US, the games will begin this coming Friday, Feb.7 and end on Sunday, Feb. 23.
