Location
Known as the ‘Russian Riviera’, Sochi stands apart from most Russian cities, characterized by its beautiful beaches and subtropical environment, it is located off the Black Sea. For the normal traveler, Sochi rings in as a popular summer location, but the city has been revamped significantly for the Olympic games. The city boasts a rather warm climate for these Olympic games though, as the average temperature doesn’t usually dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The city sits right off the Great Caucasus Mountain Range, which gets quite colder and will host the events requiring snow. The city attracts people from around the world with its stunning Stalinist architecture, parks, and monuments, and serves as a getaway for Russia’s top elite.
Events
For the first time in Winter Olympic history, women will participate in 50% of the events. 88 countries will participate in 15 different winter sport disciplines. These 2014 games will boast many new competitions, mostly based on the new female competition in some existing events, including women’s ski jumping, half-pipe skiing, and snowboard parallel slalom, making it the largest Winter Olympics to date. Events will span from Thursday, February 6th to the 23rd. Sports will vary from the six different skiing disciplines to the two bobsleigh disciplines in addition to the biathlon, curling, ice hockey, and luge competitions.
Controversy:
These Winter Olympic Games have brought about more news and controversy preemptively than almost any other games starting with Circassia nationalists demanding the cancelation of the games due to their claim of a 19th century genocide by Russia and the safety and human rights concerning the LGBT athletes and supporters. As a result, journalists have commanded media coverage all over the world. Many countries are attempting this year to make their own gay-rights statements with their choice of opening ceremony outfits and use of openly gay athletes, causing uproar around the world. Many western leaders have even gone to the point of boycotting the games, including President Obama and French President Hollande, as speculation claims due to Russian harsh treatment of LGBT people. Recently, a string of suicide bombings raising questions of international security for those attending the games and costs ranging higher than any other games have brought about the most media news.
Athletes
Athletes from 88 nations, breaking the past record of 82 set at the last Winter Olympics, will be competing in these games, totaling 6000 athletes in all. Seven of these countries will be making their Olympic debut. The United States, Norway, and Canada are projected to be at the top of the leader board in gold medal standings. While America will be boasting their classic winter sport athletes like Shaun White, many new athletes will be making an appearance at these games. One such athlete is Mikaela Shiffrin, competing in Alpine Skiing, who has been called the next Lindsey Vonn, and at only 18 has already been deemed America’s next great Olympic skier. Another athlete to precede a great, Shani Davis will look to fill the shoes, or should I say skates, of Speed Skater Apollo Ohno, with the chance to become the first male athlete to win three straight Olympic gold events. Not to forget, of course, Lolo Jones, but her name speaks for herself.
Whether you are a winter sports junkie or a political enthusiast, these Winter Olympic Games in Sochi will be sure not to disappoint. With the Opening Ceremony’s on Friday, February 7th, the whole world, including me, will be watching to see how these games turn out.