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Subscribe to RSSThe Russian city of Sochi, on the Black Sea, is prepping for the 2014 Winter Olympics – and so far it has already become the most expensive games in Olympic history. NBC's Jim Maceda reports.
News analysis
SOCHI, Russia -- Let's get one thing straight: The town that will host the 2014 Winter Olympics is a summer resort.
At 1 p.m. on Thursday -- one year to the day from the Opening Ceremony -- the temperature was 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Miami-style high-rise condos dot rich green groves of palm and cypress trees. This is Sochi, better known as the "Black Sea Pearl."
That's a testament to two things: The kind of clout Russian President Valdimir Putin has, at least with those eminent International Olympic Committee members; and the laser-like determination he's shown to make his dream come true -- to transform Sochi from a long-in-the-tooth former Soviet spa resort into an all-season, international sports playground.
Putin even flew to the 2007 IOC summit in Guatemala to explain – amazingly, in both English and French, languages he doesn't actually speak – what Sochi had to offer.
Not just vast expanses of balmy beaches, but only 30 miles to the east, majestic, untapped mountain ranges called The Caucasus.
Mikhail Klimentyev / Presidential Press Service - Ria Novosti via AFP - Getty Images, file
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, speaks with regional Governor Alexander Tkachev during a visit to a mountain resort near 2014 Olympic host Sochi this week.
And to top it off, he offered to put up $12 billion to build his Olympic Wonderland – including a high-speed train system that would get thousands of spectators from the ice palaces below to the alpine resorts above in just 25 minutes. Blue sea meets snow-white mountains. Done deal.
But it soon became apparent that Putin's dream wasn't just about hosting the Olympic Games. He also wanted to showcase a new, modern Russia – no matter how questionable that image may be - led by a man who demanded the world's attention.
"He needed some bold proof that he can do something very important for Russia," said Fyodor Lukyanov, managing editor of Russia in Global Affairs. "The Olympic Games in this regard is a good opportunity to turn attention away from the lack of development in Russia to a big international success.''
As Russia prepares to welcome guests from around the world for the Winter Olympics next year, NBC's Ben Fogle takes an insider's look at the progress of Sochi's Olympic Park and gets the scoop on a few athletes to look out for next year.
The dream began to look like the genie out of the bottle. Even $12 billion – more than twice the total cost of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games – did not even cover the bills for the two Olympic parks, the skate and ski venues, and the road and rail lines linking the two.
Remember, Sochi had only one main road and no winter resort. About 85 percent of Putin's dream needed to be built from scratch.
One year from the start of the Games, the total cost has hit $51 billion, a new Olympic record. Half of that total is coming from the state's coffers, and the rest from Putin's rich oligarch friends.
Gazprom, the state-owned corporation Putin runs like a CEO, has even built many of the ski venues. One can see Gazprom's logo everywhere in the Olympic space in Sochi.
Billboards for Putin's other "pillar," the state-owned oil giant Rosneft, are spread around the Olympic parks and a luxurious mountain resort built entirely by Interros, the holding company owned by Putin's close oligarch friend, Vladimir Potanin.
Ivan Sekretarev / Pool via Reuters
Russia's President Vladimir Putin, second left, listens to Interros president Vladimir Potanin, left, during a tour of Olympic sites near Sochi on Wednesday.
'Golden opportunity'
Both Putin and the Sochi 2014 corporate sponsors have all denied enriching themselves by way of the games. Putin's eloquent press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, says there's nothing wrong with using corporate capitalism – and the excuse of the Olympic Games – to better the lives of all Russians.
"We have a golden opportunity to ensure that we have a boost for the whole development of the economy, not only the regional economy but the economy of the whole country," he said.
But how many ordinary Russians will benefit from this $50 billion spectacle?
People like Artyom and Mikael – both retired Russian middle-class neighbors – certainly haven't. They live in Mirni, a village cradled in the shadow of the new Olympic Stadium.
With a year to go until the start of the Sochi Winter Olympics, spokesman for Russia's President Vladimir Putin acknowledges that "there are issues" with preparations, but adds that the Games will be an overriding success. NBC News' Jim Maceda reports.
A couple of years ago the two bought into the "dream" and started to build an extension to Artyom's house, but ran out of funds, their pensions barely covering their food bills.
They have no gas, no plumbing, and suffer regular power outages, which cut off their heating. Outside, the road is permanently flooded and cratered, and their small Russian car can't take the ride to the market.
Almost everyone in Mirni – population 1500 - lives like this, but the world, they say, won't see what the real Russian life is like, as it will be hidden by Olympic barricades and banners.
"There's no place here to feel like a human," said Mikael, who, like Artyom, declined to give his last name. "Gazprom has built everything here for their needs but there's no place for simple people. Their security teams cast people away like barking dogs."
There's little doubt that "Putin's Dream" will come true. Sochi 2014 has all the ingredients to be a grand success.
Putin is already starting to stockpile vast amounts of snow for next winter, just in case. And he's bought an arsenal of snow guns, primed and ready to fire.
Join NBC News' Dmitry Solovyov and Alexei Gordienko as they make the 1,000-mile journey from Moscow to 2014 Olympic host Sochi.
But terrorism is also a real threat here. With the troubled Caucasus republics nearby - like Chechnya, Dagestan and Abkhazia - it's likely that many spectators will actually be armed, plainclothes cops.
It would appear that Putin has thought of everything – including installing massive gas pipelines to fuel even more massive power stations, all brand new – to produce the world's best Olympic Games and return Russia to the glory of the days when Joseph Stalin spent his summers in his Sochi dacha, watching American cowboy movies.
But will these "Putin Games" boost the current Russian strongman's tarnished image in the West and beyond?
Lukyanov – and many other Russian analysts – don't think so.
"He is not seen as a guy who is able to deliver a change, to deliver development, and I don't believe that the Olympic Games will be able to change Russia's image worldwide as a big, important but basically stagnating country.''
Let the Games - and the dream – begin.
Jim Maceda is an NBC News foreign correspondent based in London, currently on assignment in Sochi. He's covered Russia and the former Soviet Union for the past three decades.
Mikhail Mordasov / AFP - Getty Images
The Winter Olympics arrive in Sochi on Feb. 7, 2014. A look at how the Russian city is shaping up for its moment in the spotlight.
Related:
'Exploitative, abusive': Activists slam conditions for workers on Olympic site
How do you say 'volunteer' in Russian? Sochi 2014 introduces new concept
Leave a Comment:
Have you seen the new page on the VINE? Click on your name/avatar to see it. The new format omits all of your friends.
If you like it, click the up arrow to the right of reply.
The loss of the friends list doesn't bother me what I find irritating is the "new postings" doesn't keep up to date and clicking on it usually doesn't give you the new postings.
Really hard to maintain a discussion with the new format.
I'm sort of giving them time to work out the bugs before I get too upset. So far it is a huge failure.
Here is a good example of how buggy the new site is.
Under the Activities heading 2 postings were made since my previous post (Sat Feb 9, 2013 3:13 PM PST).
I Click the link and only get one marked as:
"Final New" timed at Sat Feb 9, 2013 4:17 PM PST
Since this topic has few postings I thought I would search for the other post, I found:
Sat Feb 9, 2013 4:07 PM PST
and
Sat Feb 9, 2013 4:11 PM PST
Neither of them had the usual "New" link to lead to to successive postings.
Obviously they have lots of bugs to work out, should have done that before implementing.
And yet there are thousands of kids in orphanages, waiting to be adopted with NOTHING!
51 BILLION could go a long way towards their needs!!
Putin wont allow them to be adopted either!
Putin sounds like King Nebuchadnezzar!!! Oh how the mighty will FALL!!!
Have you seen the new page on the VINE? Click on your name/avatar to see it. The new format omits all of your friends.
If you Do Not Like it, click the up arrow to the right of reply.
Good Morning jack!!!
I don't dislike the new page. I HATE THE NEW PAGE!!! Where are the friends??? What happened to the earnings??? The old one was much easier on the eyes, easier to navigate, better organized and I hate the fonts.
There's an old saying...If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Time to call in a repairman!!!
Can we PLEASE go back to the old page???
The 'new' newsvine is not user friendly! Kind of like the current administration in DC... I wish we could have a do over for both!
Bow2Me
I sent you an email with steps to locate friends
Good Luck,
Jack
How sad that the common people who are struggling just to barely survive, are being ignored, in a country which has already spent 51 billion on a project which will, in the end,only last 16 days. There really is something wrong with the way we humans look at our priorities. I understand our desires to reach excellence. Yet, when we sacrifice and ignore so many suffering, would it not be better, to excel at being a human being in the end? And just where did all that money go to? Surely, as the article mentioned, someone is lining their pockets.
Wind i know this is a bit deep but,As long as MONEY is the driving force in this world there will always be problems.Money is actually doing us more harm than good in this world.Governments,Religon,Everyday people are corrupted daily by the need for money.(the ultimate drug addiction)We would have Aids and Cancer cured by now if it were not for moeny.Either for finding the cure or not profiting from our medications,insurance and ultimately our deaths.The greatest kingdom in existance does'nt require money.
Everyone seems to have a bad thought towards Putin, but it is because the propaganda machine, US Media, makes him who the US Government wants him to be seen as in the first place.
1. Putin does not allow the US to bully him or any country he supports, as in what the US feels is ok must be accepted. He looks at it from a world view, not just his own.
2. When US sold their propaganda about Serbia being a terrorist country because they gave Kosovo to a people that just overpopulated the rightful government, Putin moved into Georgia, an Independent country and showed the US just what idiots they were for doing the same in Kosovo, then withdrew, just to prove a point.
3. Moscow is thriving more then New York, Chicago and LA put together and that scares the US that Putin has actually lifted the economy of Russia and put it on a line for progress more then any other President.
4. Putin rejected the US's influence in the region and told them to keep their money that they give out to buy a friendship. Putin explained," If you want our, Russia's, support then just ask, don't dictate what we will do."
5. Putin is the only President to stand up to the US and tell them to quit putting their noses in every ones business. Trying to dictate how all other countries will run when the US is becoming more and more a disaster every day.
And just so you understand, I am an American, but beleive our own government has outgrown it's own pants!
So when do you plan on immigrating there?Since it appears you prefer Russia.
JJ i agree with you 100 percent I have a great respect of Putin and it is time for us to stay out of other countries business
I'm actually moving to Krasnodar. We bought a house there about 2 months ago and we have already had an offer for 15% than we paid. Krasnodar is in the same region as Sochi. I'm under the impression that the economy isn't too bad there, oil money and what not. As for Putin he's managed to keep Russia's debt low (unlike ours). I notice what is said about Russia and Putin is entirely dependant on who you talk to. There is no overriding consensus.
What kingdom is that? I hope you don't mean some on-line game or other make believe kingdom.
I think wolfhound means some make believe kingdom based on a laughable old school comic book, nothing based in reality.
wolfhound27
Jesus @!$%#ing Christ, get a God damn clue!! You wouldn't be sitting in a nice chair posting messages on the Internet with your computer if there were no money because none of those things would exist. Money provided the incentive to create ALL of the things we use today. Money is what creates the incentive to make the technological advancements that allow us to feed and help the less fortunate of the world. "Money" is one of mankind's earliest creations and allowed us to advance. Without money we'd still be living in @!$%#ing caves
Utterly RIDICULOUS!!! Who the hell would slave away working for the benefit of others if there was no incentive?? Who would TEACH the people working on these issues if the teachers had nothing to gain themselves? Who would build the equipment that is used? Who would build the buildings that are needed? Hell, who would build the roads that get the patients to the doctors??
The Pilgrims tried to live a communal existence with everyone working for the benefit of everyone else...And they nearly starved because of it. Only after they adopted a "you keep what you create" attitude did they prosper and have enough to be able to share.
Honestly this has been one of the stupidest things that I've EVER read on the Vine, and that is saying something!
wilsonarden888
Yo retard, NOBODY checks out your stupid sites. What kind of moron sits and pastes this nonsense over and over again just to see it deleted 20 minutes later?? Anyone who wastes this much time must be a waste of time themselves. When your mom brings your hot-pockets down to the basement for you please don't believe her when she tells you how proud of you she is...She's lying.
Well?.........Ya just can't take that ol' Gulag mentality out of the Russians can ya?
With a self promoting egotistical chest puffing Putin as the new Russian Tzar, old propensities die hard in the land of the barefooted field plowing peasants and the super rich well connected hierarchy. Certainly the 'ol Communist sickle slinging shoe slammers of the sixties ain't what they used to be but, what the Hell, the new mix of Capitalism sprinkled into the ol' chronic Communist dogma seems to work........for the well to do anyway.
@backcountry164.Sorry to have offended your your immense intelligence.I will gladly trade in this comfy chair(several ammo boxes to be exact) when i leave Afghanistan and go to Sioux Falls near the end of this month.My 1st stop after that will be the Empire mall and i will be at Aunti Annies getting a pretzel dog on the 26th of Febuary.I don't know what exact time yet but you are welcome to be there.Unless you know where Brookings is.
wolfhound27
Not if there were no money. Guess it's not such a bad thing after all huh?
@Backcountry "Jesus @!$%#ing Christ, get a God damn clue!! You wouldn't be sitting in a nice chair posting messages on the Internet with your computer if there were no money because none of those things would exist. Money provided the incentive to create ALL of the things we use today. Money is what creates the incentive to make the technological advancements that allow us to feed and help the less fortunate of the world. "Money" is one of mankind's earliest creations and allowed us to advance. Without money we'd still be living in @!$%#ing caves"
Actually money provides NO incentive AT ALL since we create it and control the amount in circulation. Could we not still barter for chit if money did not exist? Yes we could. The only thing money does is to make transactions EASIER instead of f***ing around trying to barter and make change for things. Could there be an incentive to do things so we can continue living and NOT DIE maybe without money? Yes we could. Maybe you should get a f***ing clue.
What wolfhound was trying to say was the ratio or percentage of money one insists on having versus others not "money" itself, but that would require you to read and understand what he was saying instead of jumping to conclusions trying to make yourself sound smart.
Why can people not be happy with 10 times what others have? How about 20 times what others have? How the f*** much is enough to make you happy, to reward you, or to provide you with some incentive? If you have 100 or 1000 times more what others have and IT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU HAPPY THERE IS SOMETHING THE F*** WRONG WITH YOU. Maybe just maybe you have an addiction problem.
Since we create money and control the amount of it, and there is a fixed finite amount of resources on this planet, we exist in a "fixed finite system that is based on zero". Meaning one person cannot make unlimited or infinite amounts of resources/money since there are limited amounts of resources. For one person to make more and more money they have to take it from others. When the top tax was reduced from 90% back in the 60's WTF happened? The rich got richer and the poor got poorer. How comes the middleclass and the poor LOST money? Where did it go? How did the rich gain money and where did it come from? F***ing magic I tell you...
A 90% top tax rate is needed near the top to force people to pay their workers a decent ratio/percentage. If not you end up with people with to much money for their own good like Putin and his buddies. I wonder why corporate America has so much power? Gee I wonder why... Maybe just maybe if you put some limits on how much they can acquire or keep they would not have such an incentive to lie, cheat, steal, and f*** over anyone that threatens their profits/existence.
Tired-2176559
If our modern world could exist with a barter system, monetary principle never would have been created. You seem to understand that it makes it easier but you fail to comprehend what that leads to. It's not just easier to get the things you need, it's easier to advance as a species. As I said, without money we'd still be living in caves hoping that there is some other group that has an excesses of the things we need and a lack of the things we have too much of. How can you can fail to understand the far reaching implications of making things "easier"??
ROTFLMAO!! Wealth is created!!!!!!!!!!!! There is no limit to the amount of potential wealth because there is incentive to find ways to make more of it. Why would we have ANY of the things we have today if there wasn't someone out there trying to figure out how to make a buck?? This is such a simple concept it just baffles me that people can't grasp it!
Congrats, you just moved wolfhound27 down a notch on the "stupid things said" list. The French just imposed massive tax increases on the wealthy and they are leaving in droves. http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/12/18/can-the-last-taxpayer-leaving-france-please-turn-out-the-lights/ Personally I'll take a pathetic "ratio/percentage" of a LOT rather than a "decent ratio/percentage." of NOTHING!!!
You progressives wouldn't seem so clueless if you actually accounted for reality and cause and effect when you come up with your ridiculous ideas.
Backcountry164 is just an online dweeb trying to be smart and tough since he can't do it anywhere else.Some would even say he is an online bully.He is really nothing but a craven coward shooting his mouth offon line.He could'nt get away with it off line but,then again i doubt he would even try it in the 1st place.
why is it that people like Backcountry feel they need to come here to stroke there ego by belittling others?By some peoples definitions,Backcountry would be considered a bully.
wolfhound27
Says the guy who apparently just beats up people who disagree with him in person.
Sure, some people are incredibly sensitive. Not sure why those people post to forums though. Sorry to have hurt your feelings. But you should really avoid the kitchen if you can't take the heat.
Putin's image tarnished?.....According to whom?
The KGB and the GRU ..lol Hard line communists don't like him much either.His recent support for syria hasn't made him many new friends either.
I do not believe Putin gaves a damn what Obama thinks.
Why should he care what Obama thinks?Putin isn't worried about being called a racist or a hater.Putin is not worried about gun control or healtcare.He can silence anyone who disagrees with him.After all,it still is Russia you know.
Wolfhound, apparently you have never been to Russia and you are one of the ones who believe everything the media and movies tells you! And as for the "ammo boxes" as chairs...lol. You are one of those pathetic Libs that lies to everyone to try and get sympathy. Even the most isolated FOB has chairs for you and if you are truly soooooo far in the deep dark realms of the mountain region and sit on ammo boxes, then I hate to tell you, but your portable modem doesn't stretch that far and even combat comms can't get you internet in a hole...lmao. Why don't you grow up and give Daddy back his computer now so he can watch some skin flicks...:)
I bet you say things like this online because you don't have the balls to do it anywhere else.It's a good thing you are nice and safe online.Otherwise you might have to eat your words on the street someday.You are just a crap talking coward.
I am no " crap talking coward " as you say. As I see it, you didn't dispute anything I said! I don't hide behind a computer and talk about non-sense I have no clue about and attempt to get people to feel sorry for me as I jump on the "I am some poor guy sitting on ammo cans" BS! If you are interested in meeting me and as you say, are in Afghanistan, then come visit me at the FOB just north of were Tillman used to be. If you are truly who you say you are, you know exactly where that is located. Just ask for JJ, they will show you to my hut.
Sounds like business as usual. Why would anyone be surprised? People in most of Russia never have much to smile about. It is tradition.
Russia is the sick country of Europe. The life expectancy of the male Russian is 58.9 years. The causes of death are: heart disease, hepatitis C, tubuculosis(with new strains untreatable with drugs), Aids(400-500 thousand per year) and complications from alcholism. Russians are disappearing from the earth. They have the highest abortion rate in Europe and the lowest fertility rate at 1.2(it takes 2.1 to replace a nations population). By 2040 Russia will experience a 50% population loss. Toward the end of this centuy Siberia will be all but unoccupied. Putin is offering the equivalent of $ 9 thousand to russan couples to have a second child.
mikeyknows
You think a half a million people in Russia die from Aids every year?? I think you've got an extra zero there.
Still waiting on you backcountry
More like Mikey knows nothing...lol. I love how people talk about something they have no clue about. I lived in Moscow for 2 years and travelled all over Russia. You couldn't be farther from the truth. Now go call someone on your Obama phone that might know the what the real story is...:)
Mikey boy....it is spelled, Russia! And it is doing better than the US right now. Lukoil gas stations are all over the northeastern US. That's Russian oil refined into gasoline and sold here. How much American oil, and by what company , is sold in Russia? How much American beer and distilled spirits are sold in Russia? None! While Stolichnaya sells very well in America. Russia has less than half the population of the US and is no longer a super power. They have decaying nuclear tipped missiles, which should be a worry to someone in the US Government.
Moscow has more billionaires in it than any where else on the planet. Over one thousand. Maybe they are not all ethical people, but show me someone with that much money and I'll show you a person who cut a corner or two somewhere.
Sochi is beautiful. I hope the 2014 Games are a success.
Just because Russia sells oil in USA and not vice versa doe snto mean they are sound economy as opposed to ours. Selling natural resources is not very fancy formula for success especially if it does not lift quality of life for the population at large. How many computer chips Russia sells to USA (which are made from unlimited sand), how many russian cars do you see on our roads? Not that our economy is perfect, but I would take it over russian any day. Putin was able to pull Russia out of malaise of 90s because of spike in global oil prices, but utterly failed to truly modernize it. They will throw billions into Sochi to make it into Potemkin villagee, but all it will be a russian version of Mexican Acapulco or Cancun and nothing else.
Eric, it is nice to always have comments from people that know nothing about what they speak of and apparently you are full of it as well. Russia's economy is about 100 times better then ours and if you ever get a chance to go to any of their cities, you will see homelessness and crime are about 1/16 of what we have. So please, do a little fact finding before you run your mouth about what you have seen on tv or in the movies...:)
It seems like Putin is making his rich friends richer!! That's the goal of Republicans! 2 peas in a pod!
I love ignorant liberals with these statements. The Democrats are moving us closer to being more like Russia. And while they tell you idiots that they are for the poor, Nancy and Harry line their pockets even further with their Hollywood buddies.
JOhn, either you are definitely willfully ignorant......... OR you arent telling the truth and engaging in propaganda!
The republicans have made everyone richer (you can give Bill Clinton some credit also of course). People today are 30% more wealthy than their parents were at the same age (adjusted for inflation of course). And that includes everyone from the very poor to the very wealthy. But please don't let any facts get in the way of a good bit of rhetoric.
we are also paying alot more for things than our parents were too.Don't forget that part of it.
wolfhound27
I didn't! "Adjusted for inflation" Paying more for things over time is called "inflation", even after accounting for that fact we STILL are worth 30% more than our parents at the same age.
Just becasue i did'nt type the word"inflation"doesn't mean i don't know the word.I was making it easier for all to understand.Not everyone is like you trying to be an ego maniac.Regardless,you are just here too stroke your own ego anyway.
wolfhound27
By saying something that didn't make sense?
The inflation that I mentioned was the part you told me not to forget.
LOL! Right, like anyone even cares what some anonymous person on the Internet says.
Putin & his friends of course includes the Olympic Committee which shows how corrupt they all are.
Putin is an ego centric as5wipe that cares only about his power and money, the hell with his? people, the Russian people.
As for you people who think Putty boy is so wonderful why don't you immigrate to Russia where you can be closer to kiss his a55 all day. This country has problems, all countries have some problems but it still beats the hell out of Russia in less you are very wealthy. You seem to forget Putin was KBG a nice little social club at one time and he still operates much the same today as then.
The KGB did nothing more than our own CIA does or even for that fact the Patriot ACT that can label anyone a terrorist and take away any rights to the Constitution! Apparently you haven't seen the articles about drones flying over the US!
You sound like a sore loser Igor! Maybe you should go back home?
Getting back to the Olympics. It is time to have permanent secure locations to put on the games or cease having the games. The cost is bankrupting many cities or taking decades for citizens to pay off. The Olympics that went to Rio will re-locate hundreds of thousands of people for the pleasure of those wealthy enough to go. Most people suspect that those in Chicago would have done well with the money just as the reporter suggests of Mr. Putin and friends. Time to end the Olympics or change it.
Yank, ya know, that makes too much sense for it to be ever adopted! Winter Olympics in a guarateed snow location, and Summer Olympics in a moderate location. All this money being spent is obscene for an amateur sporting even!
They could make Mt Washington a permanent venue. Might be easy to secure it to.
Ithink the funniest and most ridiculous part is that they chose a site known for palm trees and 60 degree weather in the winter time for Alpine sports!!
Now come on.... they are storing snow a year ahead?? And it makes sense to have the Olympics in Sochi??? Somebody please, hand the IOC some reality pills!!!
Pretty soon, they will be as crooked as the US government, as usual Putin, wants to outdo the US in everything!
Russian opposition leader put under house arrest!
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/09/us-russia-opposition-idUSBRE91807I20130209
It appears Putin is cleaning house...the wrong way!
Grendlels..that's not the wrong way.That's the Russian way.They have been doing that since 1917.
What do you expect? It's still Russia and Vladimir Putin has set himself up to be the new 'dictator' despite what he is called. He knows Russia won't change much as long as he and his gangster friends still run the country.
With Russia's anti-gay propaganda laws, how will they have figure skating at the olympics?
I used to really enjoy the Olympics but not in years and rarely watch them anymore. The coverage on TV is limited to the most elite, mostly American athletes. Most of the time is spent on travelogue and human interest stories about how the women's coach's great uncle's second wife's cousin swam the English Channel to escape the Nazis or some such completely irrelevant factoid. Its all about endorsements, making money, elite ticket prices and over hyped athletes with bad attitudes (Hope Solo anyone.) I feel sorry for the athletes who participate in the more obscure, less sexy, sports who actually do this for the love of the sport because there is no money in what they do. Or the athletes who are not in the top tier but still put there heart and soul into it. Of course Putin and his buddies will make all the money off all the construction and concessions. They'll make a bundle off selling endorsement deals to American companies who will be stupid enough to think it will make me want their product. That happens in every country that hosts the Olympics anymore. I am amazed that countries and cities compete for this white elephant.
Man I would love to go see the Olympics in Sochi!
Puck Futin.
The Olympics is an event where non professional athletes can compete with other non professional athletes from all over the world. The Olympics are not the super bowl or the worlds series etc but the Olympics have athletes from all over the world who dream of getting metals at the games and they work hard to achieve those goals and they don’t get paid and they have to pay for the privilege doing it.
I'm going, I've been invited by my relation that live there. Even if the USA ban Americans to go there, I can still go with no problem.
Comparing Putin to Stalin, have you read any history at all, or is this just more Russia bashing. Putin to Stalin is as ridiculous as Merkel to Hitler. All that matters is will there be snow for the slopes or not. The Olympics are supposed to be apolitical, especially since the Cold War ended over 20 years ago.
American athletes should boycott the Russian winter Olympics because Putin recently banned Americans from adopting Russian children.
Jim Maceda said terrorist in Abkhazia, actually part of Georgia friend of US, he does not know what he is talking about.
Let discuss after Olympic games finish then we will have better picture.
Some places in Russia people are leaving better than another, but this also true for India, China and US.
Maceda did not speak about China Olympics 2008, because afraid China reactions, and US Corp world who are sending jobs to China.
Some Russians like that Olympic will be in Russia, some don't so why Marcela covers only one part of the story.
Jim Maceda said terrorist in Abkhazia, actually part of Georgia friend of US, he does not know what he is talking about.
Let discuss after Olympic games finish then we will have better picture.
Some places in Russia people are leaving better than another, but this also true for India, China and US.
Maceda did not speak about China Olympics 2008, because afraid China reactions, and US Corp world who are sending jobs to China.
Some Russians like that Olympic will be in Russia, some don't so why Marcela covers only one part of the story.
new fishing bussiness! you too can make thousands of dollars it is called,, fishing with scott peterson, , bring your friends and enemies, wifes and x girlfriends, free cement and free buckets,
Russia has come along way and don't believe the negative propaganda. That is just old cold war politics creeping up. Putin has done a great job with his country and its always getting better. He has been reaching out to the world in good-will, or would you rather have the cold war back. Dont be sheep, keep your mind open and see through the rhetoric. Best advice to all.
And seriously how disrespectful is this columnist writer. Hes leading the topic with and extremely condescending title. And all the sheep-minded do-do's just nod along. Please...