Gays, Putin, and Skiing! Olympics Megathread: THE POLITICS

[Gallup]

Really? That sounds like a rumor...

Take it from the shirtless man on a horse's mouth:

“It is particularly nice for me to see what is happening here as I chose this place personally,” Putin said immodestly as the documentary showed him skiing down the slopes at the Olympic alpine centre of Krasnaya Polyana.

“In 2001 or 2002 I came in in my little UAZ (Russian jeep) and we went around here, came out at this river and I said, ‘let’s begin here,’” said Putin, wearing a jacket adorned with his name “V.V. Putin.”

Putin on Sochi: ‘I chose this place personally’

And yes, it's true that "Sochi is actually one of the warmest cities in Russia, a summer resort of beaches and palm trees on the Black Sea. Last February, the mercury hit 63° there."
http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2014/02/sochi-winter-olympics-maphead

I bet there was more than "Putin said so".

[Ainin]

I just found out Sochi only has 300,000 people. Why did they get the Olympics?

Lillehammer had 25,000 people when it hosted the 1994 Winter Games. Albertville had less than 20,000 people when it hosted the 1992 games. Innsbruck had 100,000 when it hosted the 1976 games. Size isn't really a factor.

[Gallup]

I just found out Sochi only has 300,000 people. Why did they get the Olympics?

Lillehammer had 25,000 people when it hosted the 1994 Winter Games. Albertville had less than 20,000 people when it hosted the 1992 games. Innsbruck had 100,000 when it hosted the 1976 games. Size isn't really a factor.

Heh. Lillehammer.

[Soviet Russia Republic]

I can see that these Olympics will be endlessly irritating for me. At least three posters in this thread have referred to "hockey" and I haven't seen one call it "ice hockey". Oh well.

Rather than a boycott, you know what would really annoy Russia? The US to invade a neutral country during the opening ceremony. See, the Beijing Olympics provided good cover for Putin to invade Georgia, because the Summer Games are always a bigger deal than the Winter Games, and the Georgians did kinda ask for it. But if the US invades anywhere that becomes the story for the next few months. So do over some country no-one expects (like Argentina, or New Zealand) and the Olympics will be ignored. Well unless it's the hockey final.

Russia retaliated after Georgian troops attacked and killed Russian peacemakers, not to mention some Russian civilians that and it repeatedly ignoring Russia's pleas. That's a huge difference than say the USA invading Iraq, whom did not attack the USA, is halfway across the world from it, overthrow its government, and than occupied it. So of course the latter would receive much more attention for a longer period, besides just the fact the conflict lasted longer and resulted in far more destruction.

[Gallup]

I can see that these Olympics will be endlessly irritating for me. At least three posters in this thread have referred to "hockey" and I haven't seen one call it "ice hockey". Oh well.

Rather than a boycott, you know what would really annoy Russia? The US to invade a neutral country during the opening ceremony. See, the Beijing Olympics provided good cover for Putin to invade Georgia, because the Summer Games are always a bigger deal than the Winter Games, and the Georgians did kinda ask for it. But if the US invades anywhere that becomes the story for the next few months. So do over some country no-one expects (like Argentina, or New Zealand) and the Olympics will be ignored. Well unless it's the hockey final.

Russia retaliated after Georgian troops attacked and killed Russian peacemakers, not to mention some Russian civilians that and it repeatedly ignoring Russia's pleas. That's a huge difference than say the USA invading Iraq, whom did not attack the USA, is halfway across the world from it, overthrow its government, and than occupied it. So of course the latter would receive much more attention for a longer period, besides just the fact the conflict lasted longer and resulted in far more destruction.

Saddam was a sponsor of terror.

[Soviet Russia Republic]

Russia retaliated after Georgian troops attacked and killed Russian peacemakers, not to mention some Russian civilians that and it repeatedly ignoring Russia's pleas. That's a huge difference than say the USA invading Iraq, whom did not attack the USA, is halfway across the world from it, overthrow its government, and than occupied it. So of course the latter would receive much more attention for a longer period, besides just the fact the conflict lasted longer and resulted in far more destruction.

Saddam was a sponsor of terror.

Now Iraq has been flooded with terrorists over the years, has become ones of the best breeding ground for terrorism/extremism that effects not only itself but the region, the country is becoming more and more divided, and its general state of affairs keeps worsening that will only help spread the terrorism problem to an even greater scale. The USA's poor polices/choices done an excellent job of supporting terrorism. This is becoming off topic though.

[Superior France]

I love Alpine Skiing, go Team France!

[Ainin]

I don't know why, but I think the Sochi Olympics will turn out as badly as Atlanta 1996.

[Gallup]

I don't know why, but I think the Sochi Olympics will turn out as badly as Atlanta 1996.

Hard to do worse than that.

[Libertarian California]

Madison Chock of the American figure skating team is hot.

[Shofercia]

Putin strikes again.

Oh Putin, is there anything you don't control?!?



*Warning, lots of delicious pictures

What concern is to him...
Or the nation of Russia for that sake?
Who really cares what they do in the privacy, or the public, of their own bedroom, so long as it is with consenting adults...
In fact, if I were Russian, I would be very proud. Our chicks are both hot enough to be professional and athletic enough to be professional. Ah the Russians, is there anything they can't do?

He was being sarcastic.

Take it from the shirtless man on a horse's mouth:

“It is particularly nice for me to see what is happening here as I chose this place personally,” Putin said immodestly as the documentary showed him skiing down the slopes at the Olympic alpine centre of Krasnaya Polyana.

“In 2001 or 2002 I came in in my little UAZ (Russian jeep) and we went around here, came out at this river and I said, ‘let’s begin here,’” said Putin, wearing a jacket adorned with his name “V.V. Putin.”

Putin on Sochi: ‘I chose this place personally’

And yes, it's true that "Sochi is actually one of the warmest cities in Russia, a summer resort of beaches and palm trees on the Black Sea. Last February, the mercury hit 63° there."
http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2014/02/sochi-winter-olympics-maphead

I bet there was more than "Putin said so".

Caucasian Stability. The Caucasus was a restive region until 2010. It's been in full rebuilding mode for less than four years. A stable Caucasus is something that Putin wants as his legacy. It's something that Russians want as our legacy too! The Olympics are helping to jump start the Tourism aspect of the Caucasian economy. On top of that, Putin gets to build infrastructure in a recently troubled region, irrespective of political cost, and take out the whole nationalist "Khvatit" movement. They can either not go after the Olympics, and lose influence as a result, or go after the Olympics, and lose influence as a result. And pick up a few approval points while at it. It's hard to imagine the American Equivalent, but think of the US getting the Olympics in Baton Rouge. Part of the revenue could be used to help out New Orleans, and assist the economies of nearby states with infrastructure.

[Gallup]

What concern is to him...
Or the nation of Russia for that sake?
Who really cares what they do in the privacy, or the public, of their own bedroom, so long as it is with consenting adults...
In fact, if I were Russian, I would be very proud. Our chicks are both hot enough to be professional and athletic enough to be professional. Ah the Russians, is there anything they can't do?

He was being sarcastic.

I bet there was more than "Putin said so".

Caucasian Stability. The Caucasus was a restive region until 2010. It's been in full rebuilding mode for less than four years. A stable Caucasus is something that Putin wants as his legacy. It's something that Russians want as our legacy too! The Olympics are helping to jump start the Tourism aspect of the Caucasian economy. On top of that, Putin gets to build infrastructure in a recently troubled region, irrespective of political cost, and take out the whole nationalist "Khvatit" movement. They can either not go after the Olympics, and lose influence as a result, or go after the Olympics, and lose influence as a result. And pick up a few approval points while at it. It's hard to imagine the American Equivalent, but think of the US getting the Olympics in Baton Rouge. Part of the revenue could be used to help out New Orleans, and assist the economies of nearby states with infrastructure.

I hope the Caucasus region gets stability, but it seems like an impossible goal.

[Shofercia]

He was being sarcastic.




Caucasian Stability. The Caucasus was a restive region until 2010. It's been in full rebuilding mode for less than four years. A stable Caucasus is something that Putin wants as his legacy. It's something that Russians want as our legacy too! The Olympics are helping to jump start the Tourism aspect of the Caucasian economy. On top of that, Putin gets to build infrastructure in a recently troubled region, irrespective of political cost, and take out the whole nationalist "Khvatit" movement. They can either not go after the Olympics, and lose influence as a result, or go after the Olympics, and lose influence as a result. And pick up a few approval points while at it. It's hard to imagine the American Equivalent, but think of the US getting the Olympics in Baton Rouge. Part of the revenue could be used to help out New Orleans, and assist the economies of nearby states with infrastructure.

I hope the Caucasus region gets stability, but it seems like an impossible goal.

Khrushchev managed to get it done.

[Gallup]

I hope the Caucasus region gets stability, but it seems like an impossible goal.

Khrushchev managed to get it done.

Using some... uncouth methods.

But this isn't the old Russian politics thread. Putin, fine. But Khrushchev? Someone go make one, that'd be interesting. Russia is one of the few issues that divides NS.

You have a strong view, Shof. Why don't you make one?

[Shofercia]

Khrushchev managed to get it done.

Using some... uncouth methods.

But this isn't the old Russian politics thread. Putin, fine. But Khrushchev? Someone go make one, that'd be interesting. Russia is one of the few issues that divides NS.

You have a strong view, Shof. Why don't you make one?

Because I'd have to do a write up on the whole region, starting from the days of Peter the Great. It's hard to discuss the region without discussing the history behind it. So I'd have to go from 1721-1881, then from 1881-1921, through Leninism-Stalinism, and that would get me to the Khrushchev-Brezhnev Era. That's a fuckton of work

BTW, Khrushchev didn't really use any uncouth methods.

[Gallup]

Using some... uncouth methods.

But this isn't the old Russian politics thread. Putin, fine. But Khrushchev? Someone go make one, that'd be interesting. Russia is one of the few issues that divides NS.

You have a strong view, Shof. Why don't you make one?

Because I'd have to do a write up on the whole region, starting from the days of Peter the Great. It's hard to discuss the region without discussing the history behind it. So I'd have to go from 1721-1881, then from 1881-1921, through Leninism-Stalinism, and that would get me to the Khrushchev-Brezhnev Era. That's a fuckton of work

BTW, Khrushchev didn't really use any uncouth methods.

Meh, good point.

And for that, we'll have to agree to disagree.

[Buyan]

So... The actual sports have started!

Anyone else who saw the slopestyle qualifiers? Especially the second heat had quite a high quality standard, bit of a disappointment from a Belgian point of view to see Smits miss out by 0.25. Always close calls in a sport that is decided by judges (by which I mean no bad intend, it just makes the margins close).

[Christmahanikwanzikah]

Apparently, the taps in some of the rooms in a hotel are pouring out liquid gold yellow, potentially hazardous water.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1947 ... &hpt=hp_t3

It is just one report, but there are apparently many different minor issues with the room and board. Not entirely unexpected; not entirely unfunny.

[Gallup]

Apparently, the taps in some of the rooms in a hotel are pouring out liquid gold yellow, potentially hazardous water.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1947 ... &hpt=hp_t3

It is just one report, but there are apparently many different minor issues with the room and board. Not entirely unexpected; not entirely unfunny.

Ewww....

[Superior France]

France has always been good in Alpine Skiing.

[Lemanrussland]

NBC: All Visitors to Sochi Olympics Immediately Hacked

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waEeJJVZ5P8

Welp. Stinks of sensationalism, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are serious information security problems.

[Benuty]

So who wants to get ready to get hacked once you enter the Soviet union...erm I mean Russian Federation?

Also, has no one heard of computer security?

[Pope Joan]

Reporters say the water in their hotels is brown.

Billions spent in preparation and you forgot the Brita water filters?

Sheesh.

[Australian rePublic]

Why not mention the terrorism in the name of the thread?

[Australian rePublic]

I just found out Sochi only has 300,000 people. Why did they get the Olympics?

Money