Sochi Olympics Running Thread.

[Boom_70]

Should be an interesting couple of weeks in RussiaJust for the
Putin comments alone.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/putin-gays-will-be-safe-at-olympics-if-they-leave-kids-alone/2014/01/17/e6f8c47e-7f7d-11e3-95c6-0a7aa80874bc_story.html?hpid=z4

“One can feel calm and at ease,” he said. “Just leave kids alone, please.”

 

[Baron Scicluna]

We can't have our Commie kids catch The Gay!

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Also, I hope I'm very wrong on this, but I have a feeling something bad is going to happen, in terms of violence. The Russian security doesn't fill me with confidence.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Ruthless dictatorships usually have the best security though.

 

[Liut]

Also, I hope I'm very wrong on this, but I have a feeling something bad is going to happen, in terms of violence. The Russian security doesn't fill me with confidence.

I'm with you, but Armchair makes a good point. I remember being worried about security at Athens.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Ruthless dictatorships usually have the best security though.

True, but ruthless dictatorships also don't reveal every time there's "civil disobedience".

 

[HejiraHenry]

Happy to sit this one out. Doubt I'll try to get involved again, unless there's another Olympics on (North) American soil.

 

[BTExpress]

The Russian security doesn't fill me with confidence.

Howdy, y'all. Welcome to Atlanta and the 1996 Olympics.

 

[heyabbott]

 

[Gutter]

It's going to be 10 days of little sleep for me. Curling is being shown live overnight.

 

[Elliotte Friedman]

Going...leave Feb. 9 as I have NHL duties...back on the 24th

 

[Liut]

Lolo Jones going as a bobsledder. NBC rejoices.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I remember the security while going to the SLC Olympics shortly after 9/11. It was insane.

 

[Liut]

I remember the security while going to the SLC Olympics shortly after 9/11. It was insane.

I'll bet it was. Glad I didn't have to deal with it.

 

[Mark2010]

Should be an interesting couple of weeks in RussiaJust for the
Putin comments alone.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/putin-gays-will-be-safe-at-olympics-if-they-leave-kids-alone/2014/01/17/e6f8c47e-7f7d-11e3-95c6-0a7aa80874bc_story.html?hpid=z4

“One can feel calm and at ease,” he said. “Just leave kids alone, please.”

Every country and culture has its standards. Russia has never been known as a gay-friendly country. So what? When in Rome, do as the Romans.

There's plenty of time for all of this stuff to be discussed during the bidding process. If the IOC overlords feel as strongly about that as they did, say, apartheid in South Africa in the 70s and 80s, they wouldn't award the Games to Russia and China. But it's not about that.

As for security, I think the Russians will do fine. I think the western countries are the ones that are more security paranoid, compared to the socialist/communist states.

 

[britwrit]

Talked to someone last week who's going to be covering this and is pretty familiar with the region (whereas I know exactly zilch.) He said there's a lot of overlap between the gangster element and the separatist crowd. If the Russians pay out enough on the QT beforehand, the games should be quiet.

 

[Pilot]

Anyone else here going? My first ... just about everything. Trip to Russia. Europe. Olympics. I guess I'm placing my trust in Putin to keep me safe.

In all seriousness, attacks elsewhere in the country/region wouldn't surprise me at all, but it sounds like the Russians have gone all out to lock down Sochi. They just need to find the Bond villain/black widow they're looking for there now...

The notices describe her as having a limp in her right leg, a left arm that does not bend at the elbow and a 4-inch scar on her cheek.

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/19/22360463-olympics-terror-dragnet-russia-hunts-as-many-as-four-black-widows?lite

 

[BTExpress]

I guess I'm placing my trust in Putin to keep me safe.

Probably should get one of these.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

My guess is the Games and Sochi itself will be safe. Getting there and leaving through Russia's transportation system won't be.

 

[Armchair_QB]

My guess is the Games and Sochi itself will be safe. Getting there and leaving through Russia's transportation system won't be.

Yeah, I wouldn't mind going to Sochi but you couldn't force me onto a Russian airline at gunpoint.