Until then.
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Shanghaiing Sport?
This blog has of late become in danger of becoming solely sporty, so I'm just writing to assure you that the next couple of stories will be about something else. Anyways...
Russia's a Good sport and Good at sport? (Saying so long to Sochi)
Be prepared for a follow up story. The games of the twenty-second winter Olympiad have come to a finish and all the major headlines are thankfully related solely to feats of great sporting accomplishment, only the small matter of the Olympic Rings during the opening ceremony being the obvious exception...
Of course this was just a small technical error in an otherwise exceptional opening ceremony from our Russian hosts. (...or maybe a sign of renewed Cold War tensions as the fifth ring represents North America, no definitely just an error.) Russia shone themselves in a good light throughout the tournament as fit and willing hosts, which was in stark contrast to what many believed might be the case given the numerous controversial issues preceding the games. (See previous article for sparkling commentary on these.)
Not being a country know for its whit, Russia managed to share in the joke at their own expense with a fitting call back this issue at the closing ceremony, in which the mistake was recreated by a group of sparkling performers as part of the heavily choreographed routine.
Good going Russia, you showed that you can take a joke and come right back with one of your own...For that and a great tournament, you deserve our applause.
P.S - Congrats on topping the medal table, that's an achievement in itself.
Of course this was just a small technical error in an otherwise exceptional opening ceremony from our Russian hosts. (...or maybe a sign of renewed Cold War tensions as the fifth ring represents North America, no definitely just an error.) Russia shone themselves in a good light throughout the tournament as fit and willing hosts, which was in stark contrast to what many believed might be the case given the numerous controversial issues preceding the games. (See previous article for sparkling commentary on these.)
Not being a country know for its whit, Russia managed to share in the joke at their own expense with a fitting call back this issue at the closing ceremony, in which the mistake was recreated by a group of sparkling performers as part of the heavily choreographed routine.
Good going Russia, you showed that you can take a joke and come right back with one of your own...For that and a great tournament, you deserve our applause.
P.S - Congrats on topping the medal table, that's an achievement in itself.
Until then.
Tuesday, 25 February 2014
News/Personal Thought Piece Incoming!
Expect an update tomorrow. I mean I've even put a reminder in my phone so you know it's official.
Until Then.
Tuesday, 4 February 2014
Time for a sojourn to Sochi
The Olympics is coming up, but this time it's the cold kind.
Back in Mid-August 2012 the highly successful London Olympics was coming to a close. The event, at much a surprise to many, went off without so much as a hitch. The natural pessimism of the British public was sworn off to welcome the world to her shores in the promise of a good time, even the lovably cynical Londoners relented in there ways. This could not be more in contrast to the controversies and problems surrounding the Sochi games in Russia.
Issues with culling stray dogs and worries over the safety of the course have been just a few of the problems that have been raised before the Olympics officially gets underway on Friday, but the overarching issue that remains in Russia is their controversial "anti-gay" legislation introduced in 2013.
Without wanting to get into a debate over the validity of such a law in Russia, the question of the IOC decision to host such an event in a country that would allow such intolerance has to be questioned. The Olympics official website cites "Olympism" as a philosophy of life and balance to be followed without discrimination of any kind, a point that seems somewhat hollow given the present circumstances.
To play Devil's advocate at this time it must be mentioned that the decision to award Russia these games was made in 2007, a full six years before the new law came into creation and moving the games at such short notice (even to the previous Olympic location in Vancouver) was realistically unfeasible.
All that really can be said at this time is that it will be interesting to watch how the Sochi Olympics unfurls. Will the "spirit" of the Olympics take hold of the Russian people as it did the Brits before them? Will some brave soul take an active stand against these Russian laws against the advice of the IOC? I guess we will have to wait and see. What we can say is that if something serious does occur at these games then attention will swiftly turn to FIFA who have awarded the country the 2018 world cup, as an organisation that does have time to make some changes.
Anyways, this was actually quite fun to write. Best of luck to all the athletes competing in Sochi this year, especially the gay athletes, you go and show them what you can do and just remember I think your fabulous! ...Especially the Norwegian Curling team, those suits man.
Back in Mid-August 2012 the highly successful London Olympics was coming to a close. The event, at much a surprise to many, went off without so much as a hitch. The natural pessimism of the British public was sworn off to welcome the world to her shores in the promise of a good time, even the lovably cynical Londoners relented in there ways. This could not be more in contrast to the controversies and problems surrounding the Sochi games in Russia.
Issues with culling stray dogs and worries over the safety of the course have been just a few of the problems that have been raised before the Olympics officially gets underway on Friday, but the overarching issue that remains in Russia is their controversial "anti-gay" legislation introduced in 2013.
Without wanting to get into a debate over the validity of such a law in Russia, the question of the IOC decision to host such an event in a country that would allow such intolerance has to be questioned. The Olympics official website cites "Olympism" as a philosophy of life and balance to be followed without discrimination of any kind, a point that seems somewhat hollow given the present circumstances.
To play Devil's advocate at this time it must be mentioned that the decision to award Russia these games was made in 2007, a full six years before the new law came into creation and moving the games at such short notice (even to the previous Olympic location in Vancouver) was realistically unfeasible.
All that really can be said at this time is that it will be interesting to watch how the Sochi Olympics unfurls. Will the "spirit" of the Olympics take hold of the Russian people as it did the Brits before them? Will some brave soul take an active stand against these Russian laws against the advice of the IOC? I guess we will have to wait and see. What we can say is that if something serious does occur at these games then attention will swiftly turn to FIFA who have awarded the country the 2018 world cup, as an organisation that does have time to make some changes.
Anyways, this was actually quite fun to write. Best of luck to all the athletes competing in Sochi this year, especially the gay athletes, you go and show them what you can do and just remember I think your fabulous! ...Especially the Norwegian Curling team, those suits man.
Until Then.
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