To Russia With Love

It's been 23 years since the Cold War ended but come this February, athletes from around the globe will descend on Sochi, Russia where a much different form of psychological warfare will ensue - the games of the 2014 Winter Olympics. 

Who doesn't love the Olympics?  The thrill of victory.  The agony of defeat.  Why it seems like the 2012 London Summer Olympics just ended.   Who can forget James Bond and the Queen herself jumping out of a helicopter and making a parachute entrance into the opening ceremonies?  Of course, it wasn't really Daniel Craig and Her Majesty, but it was clever.  Or the 16 year old Chinese swimmer, Ye Shiwen,  who not only set the world record en route to gold in the 400 individual medley, but swam the event seconds faster than her personal best.  In fact, the final 50 meters were faster than American swimmer Ryan Lochte who went on to win the men's gold in the same event.  It wouldn't be a true Olympics without some doping allegations now would it? 

Great Britain's own tennis great Andy Murray defeated Roger Federer less than a month after losing to him in the 2012 Wimbledon final.  There's something to be said for home field advantage.

We all had our own memorable moments we took away from the London games.  Personally, I'd like to thank the underwater camera crew for its amazing coverage and close ups of the men's water polo teams.  There's shrinkage? 

How about the Kenyan and Ethiopian long distance runners?  These people proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that running a marathon is simply a classic case of doing something just to prove to yourself and others that you can do it regardless of how stupid it really is.  If I could give any advice it would be "eat something already!"

Who could forget Destinee Hooker, the  U.S. Volleyball team member?  She epitomized the classic line in Romeo and Juliet, "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."   Translation: What matters is what something is, not what it is called.  Which begs the question, what were her parents thinking?  Obviously, they weren't.

I, along with the collective Canadian population, will never forget, (or perhaps forgive) the Norwegian referee who officiated the U.S. vs. Canada women's semi final soccer game.  That controversial call could have started a cold war all on its own between the two countries who just happen to occupy the longest unprotected border in the world.   Perhaps Argo made up for that.

But that's all behind us now.  Come February we will hopefully have a whole new set of long lasting memorable moments from the world of sport to sustain us.    

Of course the games do not come without their fair share of controversy.    Russia has a law that limits gay rights, specifically dispensing information to minors regarding "non-traditional" sexual relationships.  This of course caused a stir with LGTB rights.  Some athletes and countries have threatened to boycott the games.  There is no bigger stage than this non-political event to make a political statement. 

The games have already been threatened with violence.  Doku Umarov, a Chechen militant, has called on fellow rebels to attack the Olympics. No worries.  Russia has ripped a page right out of the headlines and the U.S. National Security Agency, NSA, and will not only deploy tens of thousands of troops but enlist the help of surveillance drones, robots, and cameras in an all out effort to keep all people including spectators, athletes and the general public, safe.  All communications in the region will be monitored including mobile phones and emails.  Is there any wonder NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden was granted temporary asylum in Russia?  We can only hope that the likes of Anthony Weiner or Brett Farve won't be in the general vicinity. 

But believe it or not, these are not the biggest problems facing the Russian hosted Olympic Games.  The weather, or more importantly, lack thereof, could be the biggest obstacle facing these games.  Sochi happens to be a resort town situated along the Black Sea, famous, like Florida, for its palm trees and balmy weather.  With temperatures ranging from 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit, it will be tough to keep the ice venues cold.  Of course, skiing will take place in the mountains where generally there is a significant amount of snowfall but snow making machines will be on stand-by none-the-less.

So it would seem the cold war Olympics could ironically become lukewarm if the weather doesn't cooperate.  Let's not worry about that melting snow just yet.  Instead, let's hope the Sochi Olympics, like those held before it, with all of their pomp and circumstance, personal triumphs and improbable defeats, will melt our hearts and leave us with memories to last a lifetime.  Or at least until 2016 when we can Blame it on Rio.