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| Yes | 67% | 98 votes | Total: 146 votes | |
| No | 33% | 48 votes |
Yes
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Add to FavoritesI was excited to hear the news that Sochi would host the 2014 Winter Olympics over Pyeongchang and Salzburg, the two finalists who also lost to Vancouver for the right to host the 2010 Winter Olympics.
There are three reasons why I believe Sochi was the right choice. One was Sochi's climate, but the other two reasons may surprise other people.
One, it is very difficult to dispute having the Winter Olympics in an area of Russia that is warmer that the Caucasus region in southern Russia. Its average temperature is usually above freezing year round, and can even reach a balmy 75 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months. Its proximity with the Caucasus mountains is ideal for great skiing events, particularly at Krasnaya Polyana.
Two, I could not think of a better region to get an opportunity to host a major event than Central Asia/Eastern Europe. Four of the seven finalists for the 2014 Winter Olympics came from either Eastern Europe or Central Asia (Sochi, Russia; Sofia, Bulgaria; Almaty, Kazakhstan; Borjomi, Georgia). In recent years, we have seen Eastern European or Central Asia get the honor or even opportunity of serving as hosts or applying a bid to host. This includes Moscow hosting the 2008 UEFA Champions league final, as well as Poland and Ukraine successfully winning a bid to host the 2012 European Championships in soccer. This is a region we will see host some very successful tournaments in years to come. Even the Caucasian countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia expressed interest to host the 2020 edition of the European Championships in soccer. Regardless of the sport, this region will be great hosts.
Three, I always looked as the Caucasus region not just as a wonderful summer and winter resort. It is the perfect place one can go, even if it was for exile. I always remember the great Russian writer Alexander Pushkin. After the Decembrist uprising, Pushkin was force into exile. The Decembrists were forced into the harsh, unforgiving cold of Siberia. The question was where would he go that was not as harsh as Siberia, but not as far aways a Tahiti? The Caucasus mountains provide the most serene environment one can imagine, and the best part was that Pushkin did not have to travel very far to find paradise.
The organizers of the Sochi bid must remember one thing: if they can inspire and unite all groups of Russia, regardless of past conflicts and show that Russia is not always about the rich exploiting the poor, then it will end up being a great thing that Russia hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics. As a Russian Area Studies minor from college, Russia will be great hosts for this event.
Learn more about this author, Antonio Martinez.
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No
I think choosing Russia for the 2014 winter Olymic games was a bad idea. Russia is a big country, but it is also a dangerous country. Many dangerous countries such as Afghanistan are surrounding Russia. If many people arrive at Russia to watch the Olympic games, few people are going to get hurt. What I mean by getting hurt are serious injuries or even death. Why would anybody pick such a harmful country to present the 2014 winter olympics? Well, after few incidents in China, I think some countries would be not appropriate for the Olymic games. More countries should be banned from being able to see the Olympic games in their own country. If these dangerous and harmful countries including Russia are one of the countries that are not banned from the Olymics, many travellers visiting Russia for the Olympic games or Russians will be in trouble.
Second reason I think choosing Russia for the 2014 winter Olymic games was a bad idea is because of money. Some people might say 'What about the money?'. I know if a country is opening the Olympic games, lots of people come and buy gifts and food and their essential. Russia is one of the countries that have a stabled economy. If more people visit Russia, they will higher all the prices of everything. If you take money and use it on something to be able to stay in Russia, think about this first. Are you going to buy any gifts? Are you buying food? Are you going to stay in a hotel? Ask three questions. Plus, the Olympic games ticket. The ticket might be sold, so you should probably starting to worry about tickets in a few years. Are the tickets expensive? Check out for yourself in a few years. When you know the price is the best time to buy tickets.
This has been a great experience writing about the cons about choosing Russia for the winter Olympics. If you were planning to visit Russia and you are starting to worry about what I said, do not worry. Even if there are some cons about going to Russia, things will be much better once you get there. I am not arguing that it is the Russia's fault that the winter Olympic games are going to be held there. The Olympic games itself is picking the location of the next Olympic games. Did you think the Beijing Olmypic was great? If you did, make the Russa Olympic the best Olympic held ever. But, I still think there are more cons then pros of choosing Russia for the 2014 winter olympic games.
Learn more about this author, Hye Ju Kum.
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