If there is danger at any point during next month's Winter Olympics, there are measures in place for the United States to get their people out of Russia and yet, at the same time, we know that when the dust settles in such an event, the IOC will be in serious trouble.
For those who have not been following the drama that has transpired in this lead up to Sochi, Russia is a nation that has recently fallen off the rails of political stability. Less than two years after the succeeded Dmitry Medvedev as the 4th president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin is a man disliked by many in the political world. He is violent, abusive of his power and borders on being a dictator. Within days of his election, Putin disbanded a protest of his election by ordering police to arrest as well as beat a musical group that spoke critically of his actions. Within a few months of that, it was June 2013 and time for Putin to make even more global enemies when he signed into law a decree banning what he deemed to be "homosexual propaganda." That law deemed it illegal for one to carry a rainbow flag, or any other gay rights symbols or even hold hands or hug someone of the same gender. As riots, hate crimes and the brutal arrests continued, a sense of worry began to cloud over the Olympic games set to commence within 1 years’ time. And now, that worry has turned into a complete and total dreading of what might happen this February.
Many Olympians have asked their family to stay home rather than putting themselves at risk by attending such a tense games.
"I told my family not to go, but my mom wants to go so I can't stop her. I would prefer if she didn't go," Chezh Republic and Boston Bruin forward, David Krejci said to ESPN Boston earlier this week "I understand everybody who doesn't want their families to go. It's a scary situation."
Even Canadian/Bruin coach, Claude Jullian has requested that his loved one's stay home.
"That's still a debate right now," Julien said. "Not my family. If anything, it will be my wife, but that's still under debate right now. There is concern, like anybody else, but there's concern like that everywhere else. I think it's been exposed more because of what it represents, but it's a decision we'll make later."
We hear stories of shootings, attempted bombing and by extension, the army of security forces that will be dispatched to protect these games and frankly, it is hard not to feel scared. When people from this United States of Amarica hear that there are measures in place for all American Atheleats and press workers to be evacuated from Russia at a moment's notice, when we hear that there was a memo sent out to US Olympians stating that they should not where USA gear outside of the arena for fear of being attacked we wonder, why is this nation sending its people into this situation? Frankly, we do not know. When the homophobic laws ruffled some feathers back in June, there were already talks of boycotting the games for that reason alone and yet while we rapidly realize the extent of the poverty and anger that thrives just feet from many of these Olympic venues we will still participate.
So why?
No matter the fear, no matter how evil and inept at keeping control of their country the Russian government may be, there is still a magic about this age old tradition. To be named to an Olympic team in any sport in any country is still an honor, still an example of thanks and respect simply telling you that you are one of the best, ski jumpers, one of the fastest skiers, skaters or luge riders in your nation of millions. And no matter the worry, no matter what kind of looming fear of attack there may be, we will still watch these games and we will still marvel at the speed at which these human beings can move their bodies, no matter what kind of skies or other implements they use to do so. NBC will still make millions, even billions off of these games and frankly, nothing bad will happen until something happens. Fact is, the United States should not have to deprive their athletes of the opportunity to compete, the IOC should instead have to work to provide those athletes with a safe stage to showcase their skills and at this point, it does not seem like they have done that.
If these games are great than there will be praise but if they go badly, if there is danger, if there is an impending reason for great fear at any point during these 17 days of competition than the IOC will be ripped apart and brutally condemned for what may be the biggest mistake they have ever made.
That is, awarding the 2014 Winter Olympics to Sochi.
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