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February 2014
Ka ‘Ohana
NEWS of the DAY WINDWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE
2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi by Jessica Crawford Ka ‘Ohana Staff Reporter
T
he 2014 Winter Olympics are scheduled to take place Feb. 7 through 23 in Sochi, Russia. This year, in the lead-up to the games, Sochi has been marked by several controversies. From human rights issues to the enormous cost and threats of terrorism—here’s a run-down on the 2014 Winter Games and a brief history of the Olympics.
Sochi summed up
When Russia won the bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympics in 2007, it estimated the games would cost $12 billion. Seven years later, costs have climbed to over $50 billion. It is slated to be the most expensive Olympic Games in history. So why is Sochi so expensive? There turns out to be a number of factors: It isn’t the most ideal place to hold the Winter Games. Sochi is a subtropical resort town, stretching for 90 miles along the Black Sea. The region has some of the warmest climates in the country. While winters are cold, temperatures during the games are expected to be in the low-50s, pushing for measures (such as snow “hoarding” and hundreds of snow machines) to ensure there’s enough snow on the ground. Much of the infrastructure needed to host the games had to be built from scratch. More than a dozen venues had to be built, including new hotels, roads, railways, bridges, tunnels and an airport renovation. Many reports of corruption regarding government officials, construction companies and building contracts have surfaced and are believed to account for some of the inflated budget. For example, a new 31-mile roadway built between Sochi and Krasnaya Polyana,
the resort hosting the ski and snowboard events, cost over $8 billion (yes, billion) — more than the entire cost of the last Winter Olympics. A good chunk of change is also going towards security. In recent weeks, Sochi has been plagued by concerns about whether security is adequate. In October and twice in December, the city of Volgograd was hit by suicide bombings that have killed at least 34 people and injured over 100.
by foot, train, car, plane, troika and even reindeer sleigh—it is expected to be the longest relay in Winter Olympics history. On November 7, 2013, the torch was launched aboard a Soyuz TMA-11M en route to the International Space Station. At some 200 miles above Earth, the torch was taken on a “spacewalk” by Russian cosmonauts. December 18, 2013—Obama sends a message of opposition to Russia’s anti-gay laws by naming Sochi Olympic delegates tennis legend Billie Bring in the new Amid all the controversy, Jean King, hockey player (twoSochi 2014 will be remembered time Olympic medalist) Caitlin for introducing 12 new winter Cahow and figure skater Brian sports competitions, including Boitano. The openly gay sports women’s ski jumping, coed team figure skating, biathlon, figures will attend the openluge as well as new men’s and ing and closing ceremonies. women’s categories in skiing Obama, on the other hand, is not expected to attend the and snowboarding. Olympic Games. Countdown to the Games December 19, 2013—PresiSeptember 2013—Russian documentary filmmaker Ser- dent Putin announces he will pardon gei Miroshjailed critics nichenko bea n d a c t ivgan shooting ists, includthe official i ng for mer film of the o i l t yc o o n 2014 OlymMikhail Khopic Wi nter dokovsky, 30 Games, titled, Greenpeace “Rings of the members and World.” The two members film will of the punk highlight band Pussy Olympic valRiot. The anues, sports COURTESY OLGA MALTSEVA nouncement philosophy, The Olympic silver medal in detail. comes after technology and the growing role of women international criticism about in sports. It will also contain Russia’s human rights records footage and stories of individu- and recently passed “anti-gay” als behind-the-scenes, such as laws. ice-makers, software engineers, History of the Games technicians and medical speThe a nc ient Oly mpic cialists. Games were held in Greece October 2013—The Olympic from 8th century B.C. to 4th Torch Relay begins. With an century A.D. These games proestimated 14,000 torchbearers vided inspiration to create the carrying the torch across 83 re- modern Olympic Games we gions of Russia, covering more see today. than 40,000 miles, including After growing public in-
COURTESY FOTOPHILIUS
Canadian Jeremy Wotherspoon holds the 500 meter speed skating record.
terest in reviving the ancient games, a wealthy philanthropist provided funding to restore the ancient Panathenaic Stadium to hold the games. The stadium hosted the Olympics in 1870 and 1875. In 1894, Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The first Olympic Games (under the IOC) were held in 1896 in Athens, Greece. The Winter Olympics was created to feature sporting events that were impossible to hold during the Summer Games. In 1924, a winter “sports week” was held in Chamonix, France, and became the first official Winter Games. Throughout the years the games have grown. The 1936 Summer Olympics was the first to be broadcast on television to local audiences and the Winter Olympics of ‘56 were the first to be televised internationally. The 2012 Summer Olympics held in London brought together 204 nations with approximately 10,500 athletes (compared to the games in 1896, which brought together 14 nations and 241 athletes.) It had more than 219.4 million Americans tuning in to watch, making it the most
watched event in U.S. history, according to Nielsen ratings.
Women and the Olympics
Women were first allowed to compete in the Olympics in 1900, but by the 1992 Summer Olympics, there were still 35 countries that did not send females athletes to compete. At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, for the first time in history, every country competing included female athletes. It also marked the first year in which females could compete in every sport. The only events men cannot compete in are synchronized swimming and rhythmic gymnastics.
Medal breakdown
The IOC determines the physical properties and designs of the medals. The top three winning competitors in each sport receive medals (gold for first place, silver for second, bronze for third). Gold medals were made of solid gold up until 1912. Today, gold medals are composed of silver (.925 grade) and plated with at least six grams of solid gold. Silver medals are the same composition as the first place medal, without the gold gilding. Bronze medals are made of mostly copper, with some zinc and tin.
Do you think the Olympics are valuable? Why or why not? I
completely agree that the Winter and Summer Olympics are extremely valuable. The original intent of the Olympics was to set aside a time of peace, cooperation and goodwill between countries. These values are still seen today. It shows that nations can celebrate their best athletes on a stage that doesn’t involve violence. I actually enjoy watching the smaller nations who may send only a handful of athletes to compete. While these countries may have little to no chance of winning a medal,
they embrace the Olympic spirit of cooperation, sportsmanship and peace. — Jeff Uyemura-Reyes
countries face such as extreme poverty and lack of a good educational system. —Kaela Gimon
I’m very conflicted about any form of the Olympics. The games are an excellent way to bring countries together on mutual terms. The Olympics motivate national pride and seem to generally uplift people. On the downside, the cost is unimaginable for an event that doesn’t really benefit most people other than for entertainment. This is money that could be spent on serious issues many
I think about the two Olympics (Winter in Sochi, Russia and Summer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and see very different roles. The Winter Olympics in Russia will be very political, showing the power of Russia and its leader, Putin. I believe Brazil will benefit from the Summer Games because the government will have to address the uncontrolled crime on the streets of Rio. I
think the healthy competition will inspire many people to do something with their lives and many people will find work (preparing) the infrastructure. —Marta Cybulska-Binduga I don’t understand why we invest money into this competition when the only reward is a gold medal, bragging rights and recognition. To me, these aren’t tangible rewards. The pedestal we put athletes on needs to be kicked down and America needs to get its priorities straight. Besides, the playing fields aren’t equal.
Obviously, wealthier countries have the resources, facilities and people to do much more. —Stacey Pratt I believe the Winter Olympics at Sochi is a valuable event for both the United States and the international community. Because of Russia’s recent “gay opposition,” Sochi will be a prime venue for the international community to protest such discrimination and against Russia’s “tsar-like” government. — Justin Limasa