Sochi Winter Olympics

[Jet]

IOC's Pescante accuses US of being political by allowing gay delegation

Here's the story which ran prior to the Putin interview.

[Jet]

You don't set an international stage for a major event by openly criticizing people. How stupid can you be? This is supposed to be about sports and athletics, not people's sexual orientation. Sochi gets off to an early controversial start.

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These are pre-Olympic news stories. Please feel free to post any Olympic stories you find interesting here. I hope the USA shines through this year!

[C0LLETTE]

I lost interest in the Olympics a couple of decades ago (at least).

Aside from offering an outrageously expensive stage for a few hundred very elite athletes I fail to see any benefit here. The entire enterprise seems corrupt on just about every level: crass commercial exploitation; lachrymose chauvinism; nationalistic propaganda; demagogic denials of gross human rights violation; spotlight opportunities for terrorists of every stripe. If someone can list any real benefits that outweigh all that, I'd be interested

So, so many better ways to spend all that money and promote athleticism. This thing is now way too far off the rails to even try rehabilitation. Dump the whole thing. Redirect resources to local, regional programs and competitions. Kids will still participate, still compete, still love sports even if the medal round their neck comes from Joe's Auto Parts, Main Street.

[C0LLETTE]

My apologies. I'm a very slow typist and I started and entered before Jet explained in a second post that this thread was for news stories.

[Jet]

Originally Posted by C0LLETTE

Aside from offering an outrageously expensive stage for a few hundred very elite athletes I fail to see any benefit here. The entire enterprise seems corrupt on just about every level: crass commercial exploitation; lachrymose chauvinism; nationalistic propaganda; demagogic denials of gross human rights violation; spotlight opportunities for terrorists of every stripe. If someone can list any real benefits that outweigh all that, I'd be interested

So, so many better ways to spend all that money and promote athleticism. This thing is now way too far off the rails to even try rehabilitation. Dump the whole thing. Redirect resources to local, regional programs and competitions. Kids will still participate, still compete, still love sports even if the medal round their neck comes from Joe's Auto Parts, Main Street.
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My apologies. I'm a very slow typist and I started and entered before Jet explained in a second post that this thread was for news stories.

Gee, Collette, tell us how you really feel. LOL Just kidding. This thread is for news stories and comments for anyone who keeps up or is interested in the games, whether you like the Olympics or not.
Thanks for sharing.

[Jet]

American participation declines amid threats coupled with Russia's anti-gay laws

This is the 5th story, approx 19 minutes in this newscast from CBS news on 1/19/14:

Ticket sales to the Sochi Olympics have taken a hit, especially among Americans, amid security threats made by terrorist groups who've vowed to attack the Games, as well as the remoteness of its location.

http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/1-19-b...terror-threat/

[Martina]

http://www.hrw.org/russias-olympian-abuses

[Jet]

Originally Posted by Martina

http://www.hrw.org/russias-olympian-abuses

Good article.