Sochi 2014
A Window to World Culture
On February 7, the chilled air in Sochi, Russia, will crackle with excitement as thousands of people cram into the Fisht Olympic Stadium, cameras glinting like a school of fish in an ocean of bodies. Tweets and texts in a myriad of languages will fly to destinations across the globe to share the memory of the moment. And with music and dancing, art and narration, the 2014 Winter Olympic Games will begin. Whether you’re in the stadium or watching from home, the opening ceremonies will open your mind to the Sochi way of seeing the world. In fact, the actual athletic events are just a small part of the complete Sochi experience.
Cultural Olympiad
For the past four years, performers from 53 provinces in Russia and from 20 additional countries have traveled throughout Russia competing in an event known as the Cultural Olympiad for a chance to perform during the Winter Games. “The Sochi 2014 Cultural Olympiad is a unique project by the organizers of the Games, offering the
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best cultural events in the country,” the official website reports. “In 2014, visitors to the Olympic host city will not only be able to evaluate the sporting competitions, but also [experience] Russia’s cultural diversity at dozens of performance venues located in Sochi and Krasnaya Polyana.” There will be presentations for everyone; events range from cinematic viewings to acrobatic performances, and from museum exhibits to music and dance. The sharing of cultures has always been part of the Olympic Games. Most Olympic committees have incorporated culture into their city’s Games through performances surrounding the running of the torch, during the opening and closing
ceremonies, or as part of the presentation of medals. Ed Austin, director of Brigham Young University’s International Folk Dance Ensemble, has taken his group to perform in conjunction with two Olympics: the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, Korea, and the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. For him, cultural sharing is what the Olympics are all about. “The Olympic Games promote uniting countries that, over the years, have had a hard time being united,” Austin says. “It pushes peace. That’s what the spirit of the Olympics has always been: to bring us together.” And that can happen whether you’re in Sochi, at home, or gathered with friends or strangers anywhere across the globe.
From left: photography by Donald Judge, Ola Matsson, Ivan Aivanova, and Alexander V. Solomin.
By AmberLee Hansen