2014 Games in Sochi, Russia

[fishandchips]

Does that mean that the US-constructed Canada House got disassembled by Canadians? Well, if Statistics Canada has a category for seasonal, contract pt jobs, then the numbers might be bumped up for February.

Reason for Russian resignations--couldn't have been a spotlight on the one luge head who also had some legal troubles a few years ago? Have to find out, as I don't follow news too much if not online.

Sports Minister Ready to Quit Over Olympics
03 March 2010
By Nikolaus von Twickel

Sports minister Vitaly Mutkov said Tuesday that he was ready to step down, becoming the first top official to react to President Dmitry Medvedev's call for resignations after the country's lackluster showing at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

"I will resign peacefully if this was directed at me," Mutko said as he arrived at Sheremetyevo Airport from Vancouver, Interfax reported.

Medvedev said Monday that "fat cat" sports bureaucrats should quit or be fired because of the Vancouver fiasco. Russia, which will host the next Winter Games in Sochi in 2014, finished in 11th place with only three gold medals — its worst-ever Olympics performance. http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/sports-minister-ready-to-quit-over-olympics/400820.html

Mr. Mutkov mentions that the ministry overlooking sport is only a year or so old.

[Smitty]

So I was wrong that it was not the head of the Russian Olympic team that quit, but the Minister of Sports is farther ahead of whoever takes on the Russian Olympic Team or organizing.

I noted this part "--that the country needed to learn a lesson from Vancouver.----" which could mean a LOT like all the money the Provincial & Federal Govt had spent on this big one in Vancouver.

Russia had in some darn good competitors that should have or did win medals in a few cases. If they can build up to the standards of this one at Vanouver I have a hunch a lot of the skiers will not have the money to visit & compete in Russia for after all many of the skiers were North Americans with a small number from countries out of North America--------this was next to home for Americans to compete in---while basically home to fellow Cdns.

[CielOnTap]

I had a look at the Volunteers link for the Sochi Games--something about sending volunteers to London too for experience and debriefing about what was learned in Vancouver. If they are serious about volunteers going overseas, it suggests that these volunteers can afford to pay their own way and can take leave from jobs and other commitments.

If there are Eastern Europeans keen on being involved with the Games, applying by 2011 for the Sochi Games' volunteer openings is the way to go. I'll be surprised if there is a large number of applications from outside of Europe to volunteer there.

I think the Russian PM felt unhappy that as the next country hosting the event, the athletes did not meet some expectation of medals. We have to find out how financed the teams are. Remember in Turin, the women's hockey team only had three months of practice together before playing Canada's team. Canada just scored on Russia, which could not score back. There could be money issues for some sports too. We'll see more names beyond the ones posted on the 2014 site.

The return of Panasonic (TVs), Samsung (phones), Visa (card), and Coca-Cola (soda) as Olympic Sponsors as noted on the website.

[Smitty]

You are right CielOnTap with this bit of "---these volunteers can afford to pay their own way and can take leave from jobs and other commitments.---". This could be done in Cdn because it was a short trip, possibly be some of the volunteers holiday or in many cases not working, but if the latter then who will have the money.

This next Winter Olympics will be a hard one to put on for while British & European people will be there as spectators, to some being competitors unless North American people have loads of money in the next while might not flood over to Russia NOT to mention the training of the competitiors themselves as you so mentioned.

[CielOnTap]

2014 Olympics in Sochi face terror and environmental concerns
Everything else is uphill, but winter's a sure bet. At least there's snow

April 4, 2010
Mitch Potter

SOCHI, RUSSIA–Standing high in the Caucasus Mountains, a vista of the Black Sea 50 kilometres to the west, one is surrounded by the best omen for an upcoming Winter Olympics otherwise fraught with worry.

Snow. Waist-high and still falling. More snow than a Winter Games could ever want, a full month nearer to spring than will be needed come 2014.

This much can be said of the Olympics on which Russia's prestige is riding – the snow deficit that so vexed the organizers of the Vancouver 2010 Games is the least of Sochi's concerns.

A glance in the other direction brings a more sobering reality.

Just beyond the horizon is the restive North Caucasus – the crazy quilt of angry Russian republics where militants raged anew this week, unleashing suicide bombers beneath Moscow, killing 40 morning commuters and wounding scores more.

Just to the right is Georgia, where tensions still run high in the wake of its recent war with Russia. And barely 15 minutes to the south is Abkhazia, another flashpoint of international dispute, beholden to Moscow but recognized by almost no one else.

It is rough out there. Very rough. Never before have the Olympics come to such a hostile neighbourhood.http://olympics.thestar.com/2010/article/789905--2014-olympics-in-sochi-face-terror-and-environmental-concerns

Russia's environmental rage is also directed at Canadian engineering giant SNC-Lavalin, which signed on last summer to help oversee the building of the controversial $8 billion corridor, far and away the most complex and expensive of the 2014 projects, involving 27 kilometres of tunnels and 28 bridges.

The deal was announced with great fanfare in Sochi by International Trade Minister Stockwell Day.

Said Chestin: "At a meeting last August, when it became apparent there was no real environmental assessment being done, I turned to the (SNC-Lavalin) officials in the room and said, 'Is this how you do it in Canada? Building projects on this scale without permits or any investigation?'

Oh, I wonder what other newspaper in Canada has also reported on the Canadian connection to Sochi's big move to sporting glory.

"Crime and corruption is here, but it is more sophisticated today. They see Sochi as a place to relax, not a place to fight," said Sergei. "Anyone who causes violence now is asking for trouble from the government because the government's first priority is to make the Olympics a huge Russian success."

Prime Minister Putin wants the events to happen and he is not one for whiling away time if something does not work. I can see his approach to cost overruns. What about dealing with the terrible working conditions or unpaid wages? That could boomerang back on the government, not ensuring the workers' health, pay and working conditions. This is the age of the Internet too. Twitter much?

A language boom is expected as well. Today, scant few in Sochi speak a word other than Russian – an issue raised last month by the city's mayor, who announced free English lessons for all, warning waiters and taxi drivers who resist language training may find themselves jobless in 2014.

Who is providing the lessons, are the instructors qualified, is there a chance for people to learn words specific to their needs during the Games?

[Smitty]

Obviously as soon as the Cdn waste of money was totalled up IT was obviouse that the possibility of the Winter Olympics actually being in Russia let alone the massive attendence.

Even given all the money I needed I would not go over for many reasons.

[deja vu]

The last of winter’s snow had not fully melted, but Sergei Shilov was already racing down a makeshift track, preparing for an array of summer athletic events. With his track and field training, he had barely had time to celebrate the two gold medals for cross-country skiing he won in Vancouver this year.

Having competed in almost every major athletic competition — both summer and winter — since the early 1990s, Mr. Shilov, 39, is one of Russia’s most decorated athletes. Yet few in this sports-obsessed country have ever heard of him.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37269561/ns ... ork_times/


A 360 from Vancouver. It's like stepping into a void. They are the invisible in Russia, even when right in front of you. The Russian organizers will be under a very large microscope and only one chance to get it right. If they make it impossible for them to get around, it will make headline news. It will be a large black eye on the country.

Bus drivers refuse to cooperate, they don't educate themselves before building the few ramps they have. The impression of see them and don't care is coming across loud and clear. They don't care if the disabled crawl up stairs, they don't want to take the time to fix an elevator and make their lives easier.

When their organizing committee was in Vancouver they focused on the non disabled athletes and wanted tips on how to provide good customer service to the thousands of visitors. They showed zero interest on the Paralympics side of the games. I think it will be a huge disaster. It seems you will have to drag them kicking and screaming just to get even a little cooperation. They need to send their bus drivers to N. America and educate them on how we help the disabled get around and treat them with respect. I don't think the Paralympic athletes will be well received, they will face a country not use to helping them, not wanting to help them.

Vancouver had large crowds for the Paralympic events, the opening and closing ceremonies were sold out. I don't think that will happen in Russia. Families and friends and some dignitaries will make up the crowd, but I don't see the ordinary citizens going. I doubt the Russian press will give them the time of day before or during the games.

You can't undo decades of ignorance over night.

[Smitty]

Youe post deja vu, got me to thinking some yrs ago when Penticton City wanted to hold the B.C. Summer Games. As president of the gun club I noted they wanted the best of facilities for anyone in a wheelchair. They also had scratched Trap shooting, to .22 cal h/gun & next would be a center-fire caliber that was about to be bannned due to Bill C-68 & Bill C-17 of the Federal Govt.

I would say when they scratch of Trap shooting it was one of the big reasons this was scratched for no member would support a sport going on that was not something they knew about or their form of sport to be delated

They also wanted room for 26 some .22 cal rifle shooters to shoot at the same time.

I did not bother to answer for there is no washroom let alone an out-house for rifle to outdoor h/gun shooters (which was the area for the maze of 26 .22 cal target shooters that would require us to widen the gully so much more---very costly.

The only washrooms are downstairs in the Club house to also upstairs of the same. That is what indoor our outdoor shooters use.

When you think of it the above was basically almost olympic form & we simply could not supply the above. So needless to say the city of Penticton did not hold the B.C. Summer Games. Obviously their dreams were well above their heads.

[Smitty]

Sorry, for I had on mind the latest 40 S&W caliber & I had been spending some time in coming up with probably the correct grains to fractions of some different powders for a member of the Club. THAT was sort of still in my mind. Sorry we are still into grains rather then grams even though Cdns are metric, but most powder, primers to such come from the USA along with their reloading guides also in grains & not grams.

When in fact the caliber that would be banned was the switch from .22 to .32 caliber was used by so many well before Bill C-17 or Bill C-68 came about.

[CielOnTap]

Ski halfpipe proposed for 2014 Olympic Games
June 04, 2010


ANTALYA, Turkey - The International Ski Federation is proposing that ski halfpipe be added to the program for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

The FIS Congress agreed Friday to ask the International Olympic Committee to include ski halfpipe medal events for men and women at the Sochi Games in Russia.

Ski halfpipe was proposed by the U.S. and French federations as a "new and dynamic action sport." http://www.thespec.com/News/article/782052

Viewers are used to skateboards or snowboards on half-pipes--skis seem strange to me. Guess downhill skiing is losing its audience?