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Tag: 2014 winter olympics

  • Closing Olympic Ceremony Has Sense of Humor

    The 2014 Winter Olympics are coming to an end. While the opening ceremony was nearly a month ago, we still haven’t gotten over the snowflake malfunction that had (and still has) everyone talking.

    While the five snowflakes displayed at the opening ceremony were supposed to expand into the iconic Olympic rings, the final ring didn’t quite manage the feat.

    The first four snowflakes transformed into the rings while one snowflake didn’t morph leaving four large rings and one random snowflake suspended in the air at Fisht Stadium. This error was tweeted about and proclaimed one of the many #Sochiproblems of the Sochi Olympics.

    It seems that Russia has quite the sense of humor, poking fun at the snowflake mishap in their closing ceremony that airs tonight.

    **Spoiler Alert Ahead**

    At the final ceremony, a group of dancers decked in silver sparkling outfits stood on the floor, moving to form a choreographed display of shapes. Eventually, the dancers moved to form the iconic Olympic rings.

    While the first four groups merged beautifully into the four rings, the last group remained in a small circle, emulating the last snowflake at the opening ceremony that failed to successfully burst into the last ring.

    Finally, the last ring did open up, competing the five Olympic rings.

    You can watch the closing ceremony tonight at 8:30 pm on NBC.

    Image Via YouTube

  • Lindsey Jacobellis Falls Short Of Gold Yet Again

    Lindsey Jacobellis, who has widely been regarded as the best female snowboarder in the last ten years, fell again in semifinals on Sunday – making it her third Olympics games without a gold medal.

    Jacobellis looked promising in the first round of qualifying for women’s snowboarding cross, finishing second behind Eva Samkova (who ended up with the gold). The second round started strong, with Lindsey taking a far lead ahead of the pack, but a huge jump and a patch of soft snow took the pro boarder down, ending her 8 year dream of an Olympic gold medal.

    Jacobellis’ first spill was in Turin’s 2006 Winter Games, when she was only 20. Four years later in Vancouver, she fell in semifinals, never seeing the last round. Sochi marks the second time she’s fallen in a qualifying round and missed the finale. The slip-ups are especially unusual since Lindsey is the most successful cross rider the sport has ever seen, winning gold in the Winter X games a whopping eight times.

    “I thought I was riding really well,” said Jacobellis, who ended the Sochi games in 7th place. “It’s just a fluke when things work out and when they don’t. I felt very calm and composed, very excited about this event because I really like the course. It just so happened to not work out.”

    “People don’t understand how much pressure is put on her,” said Faye Gulini, her American teammate. “It breaks my heart because I think it takes the fun out of it for her. It’s in her head, you know. I feel like people are so ready to see her fail. That’s not how things should be. She deserves a gold medal,” Gulini said. “She’s put in the time. She’s talented. She’s got it.”

    When asked if we’ll see her again in Pyeongchang, Lindsey left her answer open-ended, but it’s probably a safe bet that she’ll give it another shot. In four years she’ll be 32, which is still a fair competing age – the Sochi silver medalist, Dominique Maltais, is 33. Here’s hoping that her fourth Olympics bring her the gold she deserves.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Matt Lauer Replaces Bob Costas Again

    Matt Lauer Replaces Bob Costas Again

    Matt Lauer will fill in for Bob Costas again tonight. It seems Costas can’t beat his eye infection in Sochi. This will mark the second night in a row that Lauer will fill in for the NBC anchor.

    The veteran NBC sportscaster phoned in to the Today show to give an update about his current eye condition and to tell Lauer he needs to “come out of the bullpen again tonight.”

    “Actually, I don’t feel that bad,” Costas said.

    Costas has been dealing with a sever pink-eye during his time covering the olympics in Sochi.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEN6AWqi4AM

    “I’ve done lots of ball games and events feeling much less than my best, but in this case it’s just involuntary,” he continued. “It’s an eye infection, and my eyes are so blurry and watery and become so light-sensitive that even in dim light they’re constantly tearing up.”

    While Costas’ spirits weren’t that down, Lauer still felt the need to joke around with the 61-year-old.

    “You go in, you just kind of bang it out. I had to go in early, not to practice my lines, but to Lysol your whole dressing room,” Lauer joked about his recent broadcast experience.

    According to NBC, Tuesday night was the first time since 1998 that their Olympics coverage had been anchored by anyone other than Costas.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQlFR_6Y_hc

    Image Via YouTube

  • Shaun White Will Leave Sochi Empty-Handed

    Shaun White Will Leave Sochi Empty-Handed

    The snowboard king has been dethroned. Shaun White was vying for his third straight gold medal in Men’s Halfpipe at the Sochi Winter Games on Tuesday night. But this time, the Flying Tomato did not even medal. Iouri Podladtchikiov, known as I-Pod in the snowboarding community, won the gold with a score of 94.75.

    I-Pod, who is only 15 years old, was born in Russia, but currently lives in Switzerland. His token move the YOLO (you only live once) is a two aerial somersault with a rotation of 1,440 degrees.

    Both the silver and the bronze medals were won by Japanese snowboarders. Ayumu Hirano took home the silver and Taku Hiraoka won the bronze. White never seemed to get comfortable with the course on Tuesday. His best run, his second, scored only a 90.25 which was good for fourth place.

    There is some controversy surrounding the event, like many events so far at the Sochi Games. American skiier Bode Miller complained of the snow conditions during the Men’s Downhill Finals on Sunday. A favorite coming into the race, Miller finished a disappointing 8th. White also pulled out of Sunday’s slopestyle event, after two years of preparation, due to safety concerns regarding the course’s construction.

    Last night, some of the riders expressed concerns regarding the condition of the halfpipe. At one point, there was even talk of delaying the event due to loose snow which makes tricks dangerous. However, crews set out last night and today to fix the issues, and the event went on as scheduled. Some riders had a tougher time than others navigating the halfpipe, several riders wiped out, including Americans Greg Betz and Danny Davis who finished 10th and 12th.

    White was the last snowboarder to go in the event. He knew what he needed to win the competition. However, he had two mistakes on the final run. This will be White’s only time in three Olympic appearances that he will go home without a medal.

    Image via Twitter

  • Chobani Yogurt Feud In Sochi Continues

    Chobani Yogurt Feud In Sochi Continues

    Many of us here in the United States enjoy our Chobani yogurt, a well-known strained yogurt that has been in business since 2007. We, here in The States have the freedom to eat the well-known yogurt; however, this is not the story for our athletes competing in the Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, and this is causing quite a bit of a stir.

    According to The New York Times, 5,000 containers of Chobani yogurt were arranged to be sent to Sochi, Russia, for the American athletes. The shipments are currently being held at a storage facility within close proximity to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey due to the Russian government stating that the correct paperwork has not been processed. The United States explained that the certification required by the Russian government to import the yogurt would be “impossible to attain.”

    This yogurt issue has escalated rather quickly. The Obama administration has become involved with this feud. A senator from the United States has penned an urgent letter, asking for the help of the Russian ambassador. American officials are hoping to receive special permission from Rosselkhoznadzor, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (which entails the jurisdiction of the American-made Greek yogurt).

    Chobani yogurt has also been causing another dispute. A recently published tweet (shown below) from Chobani’s Twitter account displays various multi-colored containers stacked on top of one another to portray the colors of the rainbow.

    According to The Huffington Post, the rainbow-based tweet exclaiming “Naturally Powering Everyone” comes just after the yogurt maker “denounced” Russia’s anti-gay laws. Hamdi Ulukaya, CEO of Chobani, stated the following pertaining to this feud:

    “It’s disappointing that in 2014 this is still an issue. We are against all laws and practices that discriminate in any way, whether it be where you come from or who you love — for that reason, we oppose Russia’s anti-LGBT law.”

    Even though the cartons of Chobani may not make it to the Olympics, Chobani holds strong to celebrating Team USA’s involvement in the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi.

    Image via YouTube (0:33)

  • Olga Graf, Russian Speed Skater, Nearly Flashes Crowd After Winning the Bronze

    Speed skater Olga Graf won Russia its first medal of the 2014 Olympic Games on Sunday. In a surprising win, she took the bronze medal in the women’s 3000 meter event at Adler Arena.

    Her moment of triumph almost ended in embarrassment though, when – following her cool-down lap – an ecstatic Graf unzipped her skin-tight racing suit right down to her belly button, forgetting that she was wearing nothing underneath.

    “I totally forgot,” Graf admitted through a translator. “We have very good suits and they are very tight. … You just want to breathe and you want to take off your suit.”

    She went on to say “Only afterward did I realize that maybe this video will appear on YouTube. But I don’t think it will be so bad.”

    And sure enough, video footage abounds on YouTube.

    Despite her wardrobe malfunction close call, Graf made her home country proud.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin offered words of praise: “You brought an unforgettable moment of triumph and utter joy to millions of fans by taking the first medal for our team,” he said.

    Graf’s time in the 3000 meter event was 4:03.47. Dutch speed skating legend Ireen Wust took the gold with a time of 4:00.34 and Martina Sablikova took the silver for the Czech Republic with a time of 4:01.95.

    It was Wust’s third straight Olympic gold medal. She previously won the gold in Vancouver (1500 meters) and Turin (3000 meters.)

    “I have won three times in a row, I can’t believe it,” said Wust. “It is unbelievable and it is also a big relief. I have never felt this much pressure. I was not the only one who wanted to win, 17 million Dutchies wanted the same.”

    Sablikova, who specializes in longer distances such as the 3000 meters and who won gold for the distance in Vancouver four years ago, was favored to take the top spot in Sochi.

    Germany’s Claudia Pechstein was expected to be a medal contender in the 3000 meter event. It would have been her tenth Olympic medal. She ended up in fourth place with a time of 4:05.26.

    Her much talked about fashion blunder aside, Graf’s best surprise of the Sochi games was edging Pechstein out of the top three and claiming the host country’s first medal of the 2014 games, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

    “I didn’t expect such support from the audience,” Graf said. “I want to thank them.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Kaetlyn Osmond, Canada’s Favorite Skater, Ends Fifth

    Kaetlyn Osmond, the 18-year-old Canadian figure skating sweetheart, skated in her first Olympics event on Saturday at Sochi’s Iceberg Skating Palace.

    Osmond, now a Sherwood Parks resident in Alberta, Canada, moved from Marystown, a province in Newfoundland and Labrador on the Burin Peninsula, eight years ago. However, that transition doesn’t stop Marystown residents from still claiming Kaetlyn as their own hometown girl.

    Marystown residents decked out the small town in the Canadian colors red and white, holding numerous fundraisers for Osmond’s trip to Russia, and even gathering to watch her performances in the Olympics at local St. Gabriel’s Hall.

    Kaetlyn’s grandmother, Claudia (Osmond) Lambe, and older sister, Natasha, were two of the teen’s family members present on Saturday at St. Gabriel’s.

    Natasha, who was once a champion figure skater as well, praised the residents of Marystown, telling them how much she appreciates their support for a “girl who started out here.”

    Marystown Mayor Sam Synard said, “I can see Kaetlyn’s pride and poise as she skates reflected in her family, especially her grandparents here today. I recall Kaetlyn when she was a young girl in school, but I never thought she would be the ‘Olympian Kaetlyn.’”

    Kaetlyn’s grandmother, Claudia, then spoke as well, saying, “We’re hoping she will be able to finish in the top eight, like she did last year at the World’s (Figure Skating Championships). I’ll be glued to the television when she skates in Sochi.”

    Osmond, the first contestant to skate in the women’s short program on Saturday, fulfilled her grandmother’s wish for a score that would place her in the top eight; Kaetlyn ended the day in fifth place with a score of 62.54. (The highest score of the day, that of the first place finisher, was 72.90.)

    The 2014 Canadian Olympic Figure Skating Team is now in second place in Sochi, sitting at a combined team-total of 41 points; Russia is in first place, having a total 47 points. The United States is currently sitting in the number three spot, with a total 34 points; they are followed by Italy (31 points), and Japan (30 points).

    The Canadian team’s only qualifying event on Saturday was in the women’s short program. This qualified Kaetlyn to participate in the last day of the figure skating events in Sochi, on Sunday, where she will skate in the free program.

    Whatever happens in Sochi, one thing can be for certain – Kaetlyn Osmond is going to end the adventure with a smile on her porcelain face.

    When asked recently by the Edmonton Sun what her favorite ‘words to live by’ are, Kaetlyn responded, “To have fun with everything, because anything is possible.”

    Apparently, Kaetlyn is already doing just that; former figure skating champion, Elvis Stojko, tweeted about Kaetlyn’s performance on the ice, saying that the teen’s grace and joy of being on the ice were palpable, extending beyond the ice, into the far corners of the arena.

    Main image courtesy @kaetlyn_23 via Twitter.

  • Todd Lodwick Elected As American Flag Bearer For Sochi Games

    Avid Nordic sports skiier, Todd Lodwick, was chosen on Wednesday by fellow Olympian colleagues to carry the United States flag during the opening ceremonies on Friday.

    As America’s first Olympian to compete in six Winter Games (yes, he has participated in six games!), the 37-year-old has so many achievements under his belt, so it’s no surprise that the nation’s most successful Nordic player would be nominated to take on such an honorary role.

    According to Fox Sports, Lodwick was born and raised in Steamboat Springs, Colo., where he initially developed a love for skiing. His first Olympic game was at the age of 17 in Lillehammer, Norway. He then went on to win 10 world champions-including two gold medals. Following a brief two-year departure from the Winter Olympics, Lodwick returned to his first love and earned a silver medal in the 2010 Vancouver Games.

    In addition to everything he has accomplished, the skiier says that this probably takes the cake, making it one of the most exciting moments he has yet to experience in his Olympic career.

    Lodwick told the Denver Post how thrilled he was about his election:

    “Being nominated to carry the flag at the opening ceremony is one of the greatest honors that has ever been bestowed upon me. I couldn’t be more humbled and excited to be selected among all of the great athletes who were vying for this representation. Going into my sixth Olympic Games, it feels like I have already won a medal, and to cap off my career by representing the United States of America and Team USA is truly a privilege.”

    Teammate, Bill Demong, was the closing ceremony flag bearer in 2010 for the U.S. Olympic teams.

    Lodwick, however, will be following in the footsteps of retired Olympian Bill Koch, who was chosen in 1992 as the first cross-country skiier to carry the American flag for opening ceremonies.

    Located below is an interview with Lodwick about the 2014 Sochi Games: 

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Shaun White Bails on Olympic Slopestyle Competition

    Snowboarding legend Shaun White is bailing on the Olympic slopestyle event, citing concerns over safety. On Monday, Norwegian Torstein Horgmo broke his collarbone on the slopestyle course in Sochi, prompting a wave of concern over the course’s construction. Olympic officials have altered the course in response, reducing three jumps by a combined height of six feet, but the alterations haven’t been enough to allay fears.

    “After much deliberation with my team, I have made the decision to focus solely on trying to bring home the third straight gold medal in halfpipe for Team USA,” White told USA Today. “The difficult decision to forego slopestyle is not one I take lightly as I know how much effort everyone has put into holding the slopestyle event for the first time in Olympic history, a history I had planned on being a part being a part of.”

    White will continue to compete in the halfpipe, the competition for which he won gold medals in 2006 and 2010.

    “With the practice runs I have taken, even after course modifications and watching fellow athletes get hurt, the potential risk of injury is a bit too much for me to gamble my other Olympics goals on,” White said, having tested the course along with the other competitors.

    While the other competitors must be dealing with White’s leaving the competition with combined relief and trepidation, Olympic officials find themselves battling yet another publicity problem. “There have been a few changes made, but that’s perfectly normal,” claimed IOC spokesperson Mark Adams. “I don’t think there’s any issue. A lot of the athletes have said they are very happy, they like the venue. I’m not a technical expert, but I understand there’s been some minor changes up there the past few days but that would be normal, particularly for a new sport.”

    White has battled injuries in the run-up to the Olympics, suffering a sprained ankle in the halfpipe that forced him to forego the first round of slopestyle qualifying, as well as an injured shoulder and wrist on the slopestyle course. White claimed, however, that those injuries were “blown out of proportion.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Sochi Mayor Claims No Gay People Live In His City

    A Russian drag queen that goes by the name Madame Zhu-Zha said that there is in fact a gay community in Sochi and throughout Russia. “There are very many clubs for gay people in Moscow, in Sochi we have two gay clubs as well. In some places there’s serious prejudice against gay people.”

    How is it possible that the two alleged gay clubs in Sochi stay in business when the city’s Mayor Anatoly Pakhomov claims that there are no gay people in his city? “It’s not accepted here in the Caucasus where we live. We do not have them in our city.”

    One thing that the Olympics is sure to do is shine a light on a locale’s ideology. Since the cold war ended, we haven’t had the same eye on Russia that we did thirty years ago. It looks like, from a tolerance standpoint, that very little has changed.

    Just last June, the Russian Government passed a law banning the distribution of information about homosexuality to children. In fact, if a person gives any information to anyone under the age of 18 about homosexuality, they will be fined.

    If you’re gay and are participating or planning to attend the Olympics next month in Sochi, you shouldn’t have to worry as long as you keep your lifestyle on the down low. The Russian President himself wants to assure the LBGT community that the red welcome mat will be rolled out for them. However, Vladimir Putin does want to make sure that you leave the children alone. “Our hospitality will be extended to everyone who respects the laws of the Russian Federation and doesn’t impose their habits on others.” He added, “We don’t have a ban on non-traditional sexual relations. We have a ban on the propaganda of homosexuality and pedophilia.”

    The 2014 Winter Olympics will commence on February 7th. The Games have already had their fair share of controversy. Of course, there’s this whole gay propaganda warning which has led to possible boycotts and fears among the LBGT community. In addition, there have been numerous concerns over security.

    Image via Facebook

  • Winter Olympics- Are They Safe To Attend?

    Winter Olympics- Are They Safe To Attend?

    It’s time for the 2014 Winter Olympics and while athletes have already headed off the Sochi, where the Olympics will be held, many spectators are wondering if it’s safe to attend the sporting events. The Olympics have always been an easy target for terrorist attacks and although Sochi officials have said that they are doing everything possible to keep the games safe, several terrorist threats have already been made, one in the form of a video.

    In the video, two men who are believed to be responsible for the recent bombings in Volgograd, are shown making a bomb and calling it a gift that they plan to give to Sochi if the Olympics are held. These two men are believed to have been suicide bombers and are assumed dead. The bomb may be delivered by a group of women suicide bombers.

    Russian officials are currently searching for a woman they call the “Black Widow.” The woman’s real name is Ruzanna Ibragimova and she is the widow of a man who was killed last year by security forces. Several other women who are also believed to be widows are also being considered as threats.

    Officials have said that they have created a “ring of steel” around Sochi and believe the area is well protected. Some officials fear that one or more of the women may have already infiltrated the area before it was secure. Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin has said that he believes it is safe to have the Olympics in Sochi and said that as the host city, it is Sochi’s job to make sure that everyone participating in and visiting the games is safe.

    The U.S. military has sent two warships to the area and have several transport aircrafts on call in case a terrorist attack is launched and Americans need to be rescued.

    Do you think there will be a terrorist attack on the 2014 Olympics?

    Image via YouTube.

  • USA Sochi Uniforms: Made In America

    USA Sochi Uniforms: Made In America

    The uniforms that Team USA will wear during the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games to be held next month in Sochi, Russia, have been unveiled.

    Designed by Ralph Lauren, the new Olympic uniforms are brimful of stars and stripes with lots of red, white and blue.  Take one look at the team’s outfits and there is absolutely no mistaking what country is being represented. As usual, Ralph Lauren managed to give the clothing a classic look that many would identify as pure Americana.

    The new uniforms have also attracted a lot of reaction from the public but not everybody seems to like them.

     

    USA hockey team member Julie Chu was more approving. In her opinion the outfits underline the patriotic spirit of the United States.

    “What I really enjoy when [I] look at it is I can see the patriotic spirit. When everyone’s wearing it together, it makes a bold statement.” Chu said.

    Speaking of patriotism…Ralph Lauren Corp wised up this year by not making the uniforms in China like it did for the ones worn in the Summer Olympics. This year the clothes will have a Made in America label as they have all been produced locally.

    The patchwork cardigan outfits were made with wool from Oregon and spun in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. It was then knitted in California.

    With the American flag at the center of the uniform, it also features conspicuous Olympic rings and big stars. Underneath, you’ll see a cream cotton turtleneck, black leather boots and white athletic pants. The designer also threw in a wool “reindeer hat”. Of course the hat is red, white and blue too, with braided tassels.

    In a statement delivered Thursday, the company said: “A dynamic mix of patriotic references in a classic color palette of red, white and navy defines the Ralph Lauren 2014 Team USA Opening ceremony uniform, which is proudly Made in America.”

    Image via YouTube

  • AT&T to Provide Networking Solutions For Winter Olympics

    AT&T today announced that it has signed a deal with NBCUniversal to provide network solutions for broadcasts of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. AT&T’s network will be utilized to stream coverage of the Olympics to the U.S. throughout February.

    One highlight of AT&T’s announcement is that the mobile provider will be helping NBC to stream high-definition coverage of the Olympics to a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and PCs. Fans will be able to access these streams during the games to keep up with each day’s action as it happens.

    “When people watch the Olympic Games, they increasingly do so from multiple screens – a smartphone, tablet, computer, and the traditional television screen,” said Robert Kiraly, director of Broadcast and Telecommunications Operations at NBC Olympics. “AT&T supports the networking services we need to ensure our viewers will have the best experience possible, no matter their screen preference.”

    AT&T did not state in its announcement whether Olympics coverage would be part of the carrier’s new Sponsored Data program. The new revenue plan, which was outlined last week, would see content providers paying AT&T for the bandwith its customers use. The plan has raised concerns from open internet advocates, who see it as an attempt by AT&T to charge more for data already flowing over its network while gaining a measure of control over how its subscribers use their expensive capped data plans.

  • Russia Frees ‘Pussy Riot’ Members

    Russia Frees ‘Pussy Riot’ Members

    Two incarcerated members of the Russian protest-punk band ‘Pussy Riot’ were released from a Russian prison Monday, due to a new amnesty legislation which some watchdog groups view as a Kremlin public relations stunt in time for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

    Pussy Riot members Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were found guilty of hooliganism with religious undertones of hatred after a live set at Moscow’s main cathedral in March 2012, and were sentenced to two years in prison. A third member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was released on a suspended sentence just months after the hooliganism conviction.

    Russian lawmakers have said the new bill, which the State Duma voted 446-0 in favor of, will likely free roughly 2,000 prisoners. The new laws apply to those who are non-violent offenders, and are catered mostly toward first-time offenders, minors and women with small children. Both Tolokonnikova and Alekhina have young kids.

    Here’s a clip of the antics that garnered Pussy Riot their charges of hooliganism, after engaging in their “punk prayer”:

    Alekhina, 25, was released from a prison outside the Volga river city of Nizhny Novgorod, and commented, “If I had a chance to turn it down (the amnesty), I would have done it, no doubt about that,” adding, “This is not an amnesty. This is a hoax and a PR move.”

    Tolokonnikova, 24, exited a prison in the eastern Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk earlier today, and commented, “How do you like our Siberian weather here?” The singer also said that she and Alekhina will form a human rights group to assist Russian prisoners, stating, “I saw this small totalitarian machine from the inside. Russia functions the same way the prison colony does.”

    In related news, Russian President Vladimir Putin pardoned former billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky at the end of his annual press conference on Thursday. Khodorkovsky was formerly the chief of Yukos Oil, and one of the richest people in the world. He was convicted of fraud and tax evasion in 2003, and ended up serving 10 years. Some have speculated that Khodorkovsky’s pardon was another attempt by the Kremlin to clean up the Russian image in time for the Sochi Games.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons.

  • Billie Jean King To Attend 2014 Olympics’ Opening Ceremonies

    One of the big highlights of the upcoming new year (2014) is the Winter Olympics held in Sochi, Russia, during the month of February. One of the major highlights of the event, apart from the athleticism, is the way the games begin during the event’s opening ceremonies. The opening ceremonies play a big role in how the Olympics (and the country hosting them) are presented, including the singers, dancers, and special guests. One of the special guests that will attend this year’s 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi is tennis legend Billie Jean King.

    According to USA Today, King, the well-known 70-year old tennis hall-of-famer, was selected by President Barack Obama for the U.S. delegation. Aside from her professional tennis career, King is also known for being involved with and is an active advocate for sexual equality.

    In Russian society, discrimination based on sexual orientation is not only tolerated, but it is not sanctioned as well. Quoting USAToday, “What better way to show the nation’s disgust for President Vladimir Putin’s anti-gay propaganda law than for Obama to send an American cultural icon and sports legend who also happens to be openly gay?”

    On Tuesday, December 17th, 2013, King tweeted her excitement for being a part of the upcoming Olympics in Sochi. The USTA (United States Tennis Association) also displayed their appreciation for President Obama’s choice for the delegation of King as well.

    According to News 4 Jacksonville, King will be joined by Former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Figure Skater Brian Boitano at the Olympics in Sochi.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Russia Investigating Boeing 737 Crash

    Russian aviation investigators have commenced combing through a Boeing 737 wreckage near the city of Kazan Monday, after the plane crashed Sunday, killing all 50 passengers on board.

    Flags flew at half mast in the city of 1.1 million, which is situated roughly 500 miles east of Moscow. The Kazan crash has raised new concerns over Russia’s poor aviation safety record, as the country prepares to host the Winter Olympics in the southern city of Sochi in February.

    Tatarstan Airline Flight U363 exploded after going down at 15:25 GMT. The jet, which originated from Moscow Domodedovo airport, had been trying to abort its landing when it crashed. Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said in a statement, “The plane just fell – (it) was vertical, practically vertical.” The jet’s nose reportedly hit the ground during touchdown.

    Below is a clip of the crash:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koUV3xRIraU

    Commenting on initial findings before an examination of the black box recorder, Alexander Poltinin, a senior regional investigator, said “The main versions are pilot error and technical problems, including equipment failure.” Poltinin added that the jet lost altitude quickly, and its fuel tank exploded when it hit the ground. The flames were extinguished several hours after the crash, though the Kazan Health Ministry reported that only two bodies had been found by noon on Tuesday. Poltinin said it could take weeks for all of the casualties in the wreckage to be identified.

    According to the International Air Transport Association, Russia, along with the former Soviet republics, has one of the worst air-traffic safety records in the world, with a total incident count almost three times the world average in 2011.

    Still, the Russian government says security and safety measures have been upgraded for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games, and that city’s international airport has likewise been upgraded.

    A new runway was built at the airport in Kazan, before the World University Games held in the city in July. Kazan is also one of the handful of venues hosting the soccer World Cup Russia in 2018.

    Image via YouTube.

  • Lindsey Vonn: Will the Beautiful Blonde Be Fit for 2014 Winter Olympics?

    Lindsey Vonn has skipped coming Saturday’s season opening race in Austria, due to ongoing recovery from right knee surgery.

    The famed skier has been training hard on glaciers in Soelden during last week, and made her difficult decision this Wednesday. The announcement was made for her quarter million fans on twitter:

    After shredding her anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments at the world championships in Schladming last February, Vonn has been going through rehabilitation in the hopes to participate in 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi, Russia.

    ”While I physically feel great, I have decided to not race this weekend and instead will focus on returning in Beaver Creek,…I am confident the extra month of training will ultimately put me in the best position to have a successful season,” said Vonn.

    The athletic and attractive blonde will return at Beaver Creek, Colorado from November 29- December 1 for races. The 4-time overall World Cup winner and Olympics downhill champion is hoping to be in her peak form for Sochi, but doubts have emerged since Vonn had said last month she was considering racing in Soelden, Austria after a training session in Chile during August.

    Lindsey needs only 3 more victories to match the record of Annemarie Moser-Proell’s 62 World Cup race victories.

    After her victories, Vonn gained notoriety by sharing her love with famous golfer Tiger Woods, after his high profile separation from his blonde wife Elin Nordegren. We certainly wish the new couple the very best, and hope Tiger can motivate Lindsey to do all she can to make a winning come back.

    [image from twitter]

  • Russia’s Anti-Gay Laws Provoke Olympic Committee

    In the midst of American victories for marriage equality and other LGBTQAI+ issues, it is important to both recognize and publicize issues of unjust and ignorant behavior in other parts of the world. Echoes of Martin Luther King Junior’s famous quote come to mind; “None of us are free until all of us are free.”

    Russian members of the LGBTQAI+ community have been facing an onslaught of laws, passed by president Vladimir Putin, that persecute and punish individuals based solely on their sexual orientation. Included on the roster of injustices are laws that prohibit “homosexual propaganda” (which can be something as simple as, say, telling children that it’s not a complete abomination to be anything besides straight) and the adoption of Russian-born children by any LGBTQAI+ couples, or any couples or single parents who live in a country where marriage equality is legal in any form.

    The most publicized injustice is the law allowing the Russian police to arrest and detain, on sight, any person who openly identifies as or is suspected of being “homosexual, lesbian, or pro-gay,” including tourists and visitors to the country. This law has caused a stir on the internet and on a few news outlets, especially in light of the six month proximity of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, which Russia is set to host.

    The International Olympic Committee has released a statement concerning this particular law, saying that they will protect LGBTQAI+ athletes who wish to compete from persecution and punishment. The statement righteously proclaims that, “The International Olympic Committee is clear that sport is a human right and should be available to all regardless of race, sex or sexual orientation… The Games themselves should be open to all, free of discrimination, and that applies to spectators, officials, media and of course athletes. We would oppose in the strongest terms any move that would jeopardize this principle. ” The committee has not stated exactly how they plan to follow through on their promise to keep LGBTQAI+ competitors safe.

    Ambiguity coming from the language used by both Russian law and the Olympic committee’s statement make for much instability and anxiety. What exactly qualifies as “propaganda,” what detainment and arrest entail for LGBTQAI+ individuals, and how the committee intends to “oppose in the strongest terms” these injustices remains to be seen. As the situation unfolds, the writer urges readers to think critically on the aforementioned quote that introduces this article; “None of us are free until all of us are free.”