This is by far the most costly Olympics ever – about fifty billion dollars!
The preparation started seven years ago. At the time of the opening, there were hotel rooms that were not completed, unclean water was coming out of some faucets and guests who reserved rooms a long time ago found their accommodations occupied by other people. They had to wait to be moved elsewhere.
The lack of organization added to the anxiety of athletes and guests who came with some trepidation due to some messages from recognized groups of terrorists that they plan to attack.
The sale of tickets was slower than expected. About 70% only of the seats were sold a few days before the opening. Normally in previous Olympics, tickets would be sold out by this time before opening and those who still wanted to buy had to pay black market prices.
Many well known people openly stated that they were not going to the Sochi 2014 Olympics because of the terrorism threats.
This extravaganza of an opening was not looked forw3ard to with great anticipation. Every move was done with suspicion, security at every point was evident, airplanes and phones were made available, and two U.S. warships were at the Black Sea Coast just in case there would be a need to evacuate United States athletes, their families and sports officials.
The opening ceremonies were indeed awesome but it was watched with that fear in mind, viewed with a watchful eye. The grandeur and pageantry of every show was seen with suspicion.
Was there anyone in that huge ensemble of dances who was a suicide bomber? When fireworks emblazoned the skies during the lighting of the torch, were there bombs in them that could annihilate the thousands of people gathered watching?
A sigh of relief cleared my chest when the last fireworks faded away. I watched the whole program again for enjoyment when I knew it was already a rerun.
The opening ceremony told the history of Russia. It showed how this people are very proud of their country and their struggle as people from the ancient times to the present.
Everything went on well up to the end except for the five Olympic rings. Only four lighted. In the anxious minds of the audience like me, it brought some fear that terrorists had something to do with the glitch. Apparently it was not.
There was also that anxious anticipation that the anti gay statement of the country’s top leader might create some forms of animosity. In his speech, International Olympic President Tomas Back suggested that politics be kept out of the Olympics.
There were criticism on some of the athlete’s costumes but those were taken in stride. They happen in almost all Olympic events.
As the Olympic events began the anxieties over terrorism seem to have lessened. Newscasters are not mentioning anything about any attack scare. The headaches and heartaches turned to the performances.
Figure skating is one of the popular events in the programs and Canada has always had a strong team. It is not very clean to this viewer how figure skating operated in these Olympics.
The participants seemed to perform in teams instead of individually. The final score was given to teams. Canada got the silver.
According to the news, there appeared to be some collusion among judges so that results were fixed. This suspicion has not been proven but it appears that the target was Team Canada.
Members of Team Canada were unpleasantly surprised about the sudden drug testing of some of its members
There were other heartaches. One Canadian competitor in the Biathlon was leading the pack when he stumbled and fell. He lost a 49 seconds lead and was not able to recover.
There was also Michele Gagnon, another hopeful from Quebec who also had an accident and was not able to continue competing.
With all these heartaches and headaches, there were also moments of bliss.
Mark McMorris won a bronze but according to him”Just standing on the podium was like gold to me”.
Mark McMorris had a busted rib when he took part in the comp0etition. He gained the first medal for Canada in the Sochi 2014 Olympics.
This was followed by the Dufour-Lapointe sisters who won gold and silver in the women’s moguls. Justine, the youngest of three sisters who participated in this particular event, won the first gold medal for Canada in these Olympics.
Chloe, the second sister won the silver and Maxine, the eldest placed twelfth.
The greatest so far, excitement for Canada was the gold medal won by Alex Belocheau, the first gold medalist for Canada in the 2010 Winter Olympics in British Columbia.
The audience shed tears of joy with Alex as he embraced his dear brother. Canadians dearly love Alex, a very humble, loving and dedicated member of his family.
There will be more frustrations and of course, happiness. The Sochi 2014 Olympics is not even halfway. We will win more medals. There will be more hopefuls disappointed.
Let us hope that the peace and quiet in Sochi continue up to the end. And Russia would be able to say that the fifty billion is worth it.
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