by Matthew Emma

Created on: June 30, 2009   Last Updated: July 06, 2009

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) should be commended for its choice of Sochi, Russia as host city for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. This action is a positive step for Russia and the Olympic movement.

Russia is a favorable location for a number of reasons. First, the Games don't always have to be held in a G-8 nation. The Olympics are supposed to be about promoting all the world's peoples, nations and cultures. Not every culture is represented by a handful of the world's richest nations. Hopefully, the IOC will continue to explore potential host cities that are somewhat "off the beaten track." The more destinations the Games reach the greater global influence they can have.

The city of Sochi is primed to handle the magnitude of the event. It normally maintains a temperate winter climate and provides a breathtaking location, situated on the shores of the Black Sea with the snow-capped Caucuses Mountains in the background. The city is a growing vacation destination among Europeans and is home to a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World heritage Site, the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve.

Russia's rich history of athletic success makes the nation a good host for the Olympics. Dating back to when the country competed as part of the Soviet Union, Russian athletes have always been among the world's best. Russia is a nation which takes sport very seriously and, as Olympic hosts, have the opportunity to celebrate their past and present athletic triumphs with the world.

From the world's perspective, hosting another Olympiad provides Russia with a chance to erase the memories of the 1980 Moscow Summer Games. Although the accounts of certain sports historians suggest these Games (the only other time Russia has ever hosted an Olympics) were a success, a good majority of the world did not witness them because of the multi-nation boycott led by the United States in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.

Many remember the Olympics as a collection of special moments. Unfortunately, there are many in the world, particularly us in the United States, who do not have such recollections because we didn't see it. The Sochi Games will be a golden opportunity for Russia to host a fully attended Olympics and provide a global audience with lasting memories.

Finally, the Games could provide a big boost, both economically and politically. The Olympics present any nation, especially one struggling economically like Russia with the opportunity to put an infusion into its economy. Preparing for the event requires the completion of major projects, such as the building of venues and the improvement of infrastructure. These undertakings necessitate manpower, which could lead to the creation of jobs.

The Olympics may also be a plus politically. There has been increasing concern within the international community regarding the political leadership of Russia. Some fear, the nation is moving away from democracy. Considering the Sochi Olympics are less than five years away, Russia will be the focus of greater international attention. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the country's political elite to "play nice" and not do anything to jeopardize the opportunity to host the Olympics. To not do so would be political suicide, regardless of who is in charge of the nation or what political ideals they subscribe to. It is hard to imagine any leader worth his or her weight in gold being that stupid.

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