100 days until the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

[Aphro]

Anyone looking forward to the Olympics?

I hear there are still lots of things unfinished.

With a sub tropical climate, many are questioning the choice of Sochi for a winter Olympics. There are concerns there will not be enough snow for the alpine events, and that organizers saved 500,000 cubic metres of snow from last winter. (How you save snow is anyone's guess!).

There are concerns about Russia's anti-gay laws, boycotts, and worries about terrorist attacks by Muslim insurgents from the north Caucasus region of Russia. At $51 billion, it's the costliest Olympics yet.

Will you be watching? Do you care?

 

[Recidiva]

I always watch, it's not as much fun now that I can't watch with my daughter, but I record it all and watch it all. I'm an idealist. I think it's time to set issues aside, but I also get that's not really in human nature.

 

[LiFeNdEaTh]

that's the ultimate explosion

 

[Paendragon]

I'll watch. I've actually always preferred winner to summer Olympics.

The anti-gay thing turns my stomach, though.

 

[Recidiva]

I'll watch. I've actually always preferred winner to summer Olympics.

The anti-gay thing turns my stomach, though.

It's always been there and I think it's a good thing that there's a public and now international conversation...which might not have taken place if they didn't have the Olympics.

 

[Paendragon]

It's always been there and I think it's a good thing that there's a public and now international conversation...which might not have taken place if they didn't have the Olympics.

True. The Olympics tries to stay clean on these things, but rarely succeeds. I'm more concerned with an potential protests, and how they'll be handled. I assume that, because the world is watching, protests would be protected.

We'll see.

 

[Recidiva]

True. The Olympics tries to stay clean on these things, but rarely succeeds. I'm more concerned with an potential protests, and how they'll be handled. I assume that, because the world is watching, protests would be protected.

We'll see.

I think a boycott only hurts the athletes, but the reasons for boycotting are always made clear and that's of importance.

 

[neci]

this is going to be the gayest olympics ever! may the colors of all the flags fly high and proud. putin, nor any other homophobe, will dampen the spirits of the games. entertainers who protest should be called cowards for not standing up for the people in the russian trenches. like cher. she hides her voice, when it could be used to free the spirits of people persecuted. these games belong to the people. all of the people. these games belong to the athletes. straight, gay and in between. putin may be able to silence his own people with fear and jail, but he can not silence the world.

 

[Recidiva]

this is going to be the gayest olympics ever! may the colors of all the flags fly high and proud. putin, nor any other homophobe, will dampen the spirits of the games. entertainers who protest should be called cowards for not standing up for the people in the russian trenches. like cher. she hides her voice, when it could be used to free the spirits of people persecuted. these games belong to the people. all of the people. these games belong to the athletes. straight, gay and in between. putin may be able to silence his own people with fear and jail, but he can not silence the world.

Yeah, let's hear it for human nature when people are irritated with Russia for lots of different reasons and perfectly happy to make Putin miserable about 'em all!

 

[neci]

there are people in the world who need to know they are not alone. they need to know that there is support out there for them. it is easy to say, i refuse to step foot in your country based on the politics of your leaders, but that just leaves the persecuted even more isolated. they don't want cher there. they can turn and say, look! even your stars have abandoned you! no one will be here for you. our fear works so well, we can control even the free. and they are left alone in a country, where no one will step foot into. some people do not have the liberty to leave. they are persecuted based on who they are. they are beaten and shamed out of churches. they are followed. they are told they are the lowest of the low. like an olympian, you do not back down and away from duty. you suit up, you show up, and you let them know you care. you use the stage to honor them. not to hide them away even further.

i say let putin eat his own shit.

 

[thør]

I will watch parts. Some of the XC skiers should be from my town.

 

[neci]

if you look to brasil in 2016, it is being use currently to shine a light on working conditions of the poor. these are windows and zones of free speech, that some host countries are not accustomed to. use the international spotlight to change the world for the better. use it to unify and bring peace. if only for the time of the games.

 

[neci]

i love speed skating.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Put all the butt bandits in leper colonies.

 

[thør]

i love speed skating.

Come up here in winter and I will teach you to skate the oval.

 

[Aphro]

Put all the butt bandits in leper colonies.

Methinks you doth protest too much. You stayed on topic much better on the "O" thread.

Come up here in winter and I will teach you to skate the oval.

Or, in my case, slide around the oval on my ass...I love to WATCH winter sports, but actually doing them is another story. Ironic, considering where I live.

 

[1sickbastard]

I like watching hockey, and olympic hockey is far more entertaining than the all-star games. Other than that, the olympics are giant so-what fest.

 

[KingOrfeo]

There are concerns about Russia's anti-gay laws . . .

That should make for some interesting commentary during the men's figure-skating events.