The kick-off to the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games is here. Millions of people will be glued to their televisions over the next couple of weeks as the best athletes in the world converge on Russia.
Opening ceremonies, which are always an amazing spectacle and highlight, are set to be held on Friday.
Sports including alpine skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, hockey and luge, among others, will be showcased on a world stage and athletes will compete for a coveted Olympic medal.
There have been all kinds of concerns and controversy to date surrounding these particular Games including terrorist threats and the ballooning and unprecedented overall cost of the Games (at a reported $50 billion). Not mention the location of the events which has been described as a ‘subtropical seaside resort’ on the coast of the Black Sea. Snow events will be held at the Krasnaya Polyana in the Caucasus mountains and although early reports were thought that Russia would have to use enormous amounts of artificial snow for those events to take place, recent snowfall may have helped that need.
It’s still a risky climate as we saw even in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver – officials were scrambling after inconsistent snowfall and weather patterns, typical of a coastal winter.
However, we’re hopeful that those issues can all be put aside so that our athletes can put their best foot forward in their respective sports.
The site for the Olympics is already buzzing with activity. Athletes have arrived to begin preparations. The Olympic Village in the Coastal Cluster will be home to 2,000 athletes and delegates during the Games. The Mountain Olympic Village, the largest of the three villages, will accommodate nearly 3,000 people while the Endurance Village will be home to more than 1,000.
The Olympics often bring the world together with a sense of pride and camaraderie. Canadians are not known to be boastful or even to be outwardly proud, but this is a chance for us to show that. You can bet the Canadian fans will be loud and the athletes will feel that energy.
During the Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada adopted the theme of ‘We Believe’ and this will undoubtedly continue into the Sochi Games. Canadians can really be proud of our athletes, as many have fought to earn their spots on various Olympic teams.
Best of luck to all the competitors.
Get ready for a couple of weeks full of excitement, energy, entertainment and emotion as the 2012 London Olympics Games get underway and show your support for our Canadian athletes.
