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| English: GUATEMALA. Visit to Russia House in Guatemala City after Sochi\'s presentation as a potential host for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Русский: ГВАТЕМАЛА. Посещение «Русского дома» в Гватемала-Сити после завершения презентации Сочи – города-кандидата на проведение XXII зимних Олимпийских игр 2014 года. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
This time, however, these Olympics are not about the athletes or the competitions. It's about Putin and the very real possibility that violence and protest might disrupt the Games, to the point where the safety of athletes and spectators are being imperiled. Some American athletes (who are most likely high-value targets) have even told their friends and relatives to stay home. There won't be much of an American contingent in Sochi anyway, given the cost and how long it takes to get there.
Despite the Russian government's assurances that Sochi will be the safest place in the world, Islamic terrorists from the nearby Caucuses mountains have reportedly infiltrated the so-called ring of security. You see, they have had a long-running beef with the Putin regime over independence for Chechnya and have vowed revenge. Recently, a bombing in the city of Volgograd killed 34 people. Just in case, President Barack Obama has ordered U.S. warships to stand ready in the Black Sea to evacuate whatever Americans are left after an attack.
The other issue which got major play in the run-up to the Olympics before security concerns took over is Putin's crackdown on gays and lesbians. The Russian government has made it a crime to promote homosexuality, presumably punishable by a one-way ticket to Siberia. To that end, the International Olympic Committee has itself cracked down on athletes (some of whom are gay and lesbian) who try to make statements of any kind on the matter. Some countries, such as the United States, have sent delegations of retired gay athletes instead of the usual government poohbas to make their own point.
There are some people who wish that the IOC would have awarded these Winter Games to Salzburg, Austria instead of falling for Putin's sales pitch. Instead of terrorism and gays, we'd be talking about Austria's past ties to Adolf Hitler. Or, in the case of South Korea (which is hosting the 2018 Games), North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un could use the occasion to launch missiles at his southern neighbor.
For the Sochi Games to succeed, Putin has to be on his best behavior. Since becoming Russia's president, Putin has positioned himself as one of those leaders who think he's the answer to the country's problems. The Russians seem to love his swagger and 'take charge' attitude, even if it comes at the expense of some of the freedoms they gained after the Soviet Union came crashing down. Putin has even demonstrated some of those qualities on the world stage, much to the irritation of the United States, for whom the Russian leader has sometimes beaten at their own diplomatic game.
The modern Olympic Games have survived many things. Two world wars, a Great Depression, terrorist attacks, boycotts, doping scandals, being seen as showcases for dictatorships, abandoning amateurism for professionalism, etc. Let's see how they survive this one.
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