2014 Games in Sochi, Russia

[CielOnTap]

02/26/2009
PUTIN'S WINTER FAIRY TALE
Russia's Big Plans for Sochi 2014
By Maik Grossekathöfer

The Winter Games are set to be held in Sochi in 2014, heralding Russia's 21st century coming out. But the path to the celebration isn't an easy one -- the project has been plagued by construction delays, homeowner protests and oligarch investors hit by the economic downturn.


AP
The countdown to Sochi has begun, but it is already clear it will be a thorn in the eye of the IOC for the next five years.

At 10 a.m. in the Caucasus Mountains, backhoes dig their way through the snow and trucks dump loads of sand. The sun is a yellowy white and it's -4 degrees Celsius (25 degrees Fahrenheit). Russian men with cigarettes dangling from the corners of their mouths reach for their helmets, shovels and wheelbarrows, then they begin to hammer, weld and saw.

There are 500 people working here at an elevation of 563 meters (1,847 feet) at the foot of the Aibga mountain range. Two helicopters, a white Ka-27 and a red Mi-8, rise into the air overhead. One flying hour per helicopter costs €3,800 ($4,830), and each can carry four tons of cargo. Right now they're flying cement bags and steel pylons up to the north slope of Black Pyramid mountain, where all alpine ski events will be held during the Olympic Games in February, 2014.

The men's downhill events will start at 1,945 meters. The course is just under four kilometers (2.5 miles) long, ending at an elevation of 940 meters (3,084 feet). Alexander Belokobylski can't stop singing its praises. "It will be such a slope," he exclaims, "so challenging, so beautiful, there's never been one like it." http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,610096,00.html

Homeowners have reason to protest: their houses stand on land for new venues. Question is will there be suitable monetary compensation and relocation assistance or will the homeowners be like the ones in Beijing that saw their homes disappear but the government stalls or hinders compensation claims?

[fishandchips]

What of Lillehammer, Norway and Turin, Italy and let's not forget Nagano, Japan (the train line and the money man behind it)? What were the issues in each location before the global television audiences came along? It is not like each location comes up in the news anymore unless it is related to alpine sports. No legacy follow-up nor present-day use of facilities to bring back memories of the televised sports.

Wait--David Letterman's mother did spot reports in Lillehammer on television during his show! That could be the ticket--ask comedians to do a nostalgia tour of the sites and sketches for television. Of course, sponsors would be necessary for the undertaking (lodging and associated trip activities, plus food).

[CielOnTap]

Old news becomes the current news again-guess who is considering to be a mayoral candidate in Sochi? Hint: the prime suspect in poisoning Litvinenko in London.

Suspect in Poisoned Spy Case May Run for Mayor of Olympic Town
Andrei Lugovoi is the Prime Suspect in the Murder of Alexander Litvinenko
By MADDY SAUER
March 13, 2009
The prime suspect in the poisoning death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko is poised to run for mayor of the Russian city of Sochi, which will host the 2014 Winter Olympics.

The prime suspect in the poisoning death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko is poised to run for mayor of the Russian city of Sochi, which will host the 2014 Winter Olympics. Authorities in the U.K. have recommended charging Andrei Lugovoi in the 2006 murder, in which a radioactive chemical was placed into a hotel teapot, but the Russians have said they would deny any extradition requests for Lugovoi.

Authorities in the U.K. have recommended charging Andrei Lugovoi in the 2006 murder, in which a radioactive chemical was placed into a hotel teapot, but the Russians have said they would deny any extradition requests for Lugovoi.

Litvinenko, a former spy living in London, was murdered in November 2006 when he was poisoned with a deadly amount of Polonium-210 while drinking tea at London's Millennium Hotel. http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=7077264&page=1

[pretzels]

Grand plot development. Have the man run for mayor in a city for the second upcoming Winter Games. Bet the homeowners and residents in the city are feeling worried about the news.

Does the IOC have some scruples about such matters as they affect the Games? Public relations angle, investment tied to no major surprises, etc.

[Smitty]

One has to wonder in this time of monely growing on trees, if other countries are willing to bid for the next summer or winter olympics once they get to know the costs to failures of Canada's Winter Olympics. Especially if Russia wins the next bid on Winter Olympics? Remember Summer or Winter Olympics is only a game for the RICH PEOPLE & not the normal person of that country.

[CielOnTap]

Kremlin’s Candidate Headed to Victory in Sochi
BY ELLEN BARRY
Published: April 26, 2009
SOCHI, Russia — The Kremlin-backed candidate for mayor of Sochi, Anatoly N. Pakhomov, appeared to have won a landslide victory in Sunday’s election, amid opposition protests that local officials had fixed the race.

With 53 percent of the votes counted by early Monday, Mr. Pakhomov had 77 percent of the vote, said Valentina V. Tkacheva, secretary of Sochi’s election commission.

His rival from the anti-Kremlin Solidarity movement, Boris Y. Nemtsov, was running second, with 14 percent, and the Communist candidate, Yuri V. Dzaganiya, was third, with 7 percent. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/world/europe/27sochi.html?ref=global-home

An update on the election in Sochi. Quite a surprise that not all of the candidates could get airtime or public space to voice their platforms.

[CielOnTap]

Two Years After Garbage Avalanche, Sochi Homes Remain Buried
12 February 2010
By Maria Antonova

SOCHI, Krasnodar Region — Ever since the seaside resort of Sochi won the rights to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, the city administration has promised residents that the ensuing construction and tourism boom would mean a better life for everyone.

But the promise rings hollow for residents of a small neighborhood near the local airport, who have been homeless since a garbage landslide almost two years ago. Five houses were destroyed and the neighborhood's only road remains blocked.

The homeowners have been fighting ever since — so far, unsuccessfully — to receive compensation from the municipal government, which began dumping massive amounts of garbage in Sochi's only landfill after preparations for the games began.http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/two-years-after-garbage-avalanche-sochi-homes-remain-buried/399565.html

Seems like meeting timelines for infrastructure completion are more of a priority for the organizers and municipality than resolving the matter with the affected citizens. Tourism for a small community, hmm? What is there to see and do in Sochi?

[CielOnTap]

From the closing ceremonies in Vancouver on Sunday:
Going by the segments spotlighting Sochi, there is an amphitheatre by the waterfront (rather intriguing to see the waves behind the ice skaters), the computer animated ice-themed trailer featuring a supermodel (who I don't know of) and showing elements of Russian culture and modern life (statues holding the hammer and sickle aloft) and the ubiquitous zorbs.

But the town itself was not really shown unless the ice buildings in the introduction represented the town.

Neat twist was the Russian conductor holding stage in Vancouver yet directing musicians in Russia--had to be a late night for them, about midnight or later for them. There even was falling snow, so it had to be cold!

http://sochi2014.com/en/

[pretzels]

Oligarch means someone with money. Hard town to live in if the money people run the taxpayer funds through pet projects. Some economic development prrior and after the big events are needed to make projects feasible. No jobs, no money, no economy.

Waves are nice but what's the money angle to capitalize on them for income?

[Smitty]

Of inerest the head of the Russian Winter Olympics & some of his others have resigned.

Is this something personal, is it a low pay factor, or have they realized the money forked out by the Federal & Provincial Govts, in Canada was THAT extreme that even Russia cannot afford?

Note pretzels that many Canadians are getting money to tear down so many of the buildings, to seating places, to musical set-ups & so much more. So should that be included in the Grand Total of the Winter Olympics or as part time jobs that have increased in B.C.???