Why Sochi?

Why are the Winter Olympics being held in Sochi, only 10 miles from the Georgia border? Who could think that makes more sense than Pyeongchang, South Korea? Aren't we just asking for a repeat of the 1972 Munich massacre?

Pyeongchang was awarded the 2018 Winter Olympics, but I would just as soon wait until the 22nd century before going to resort in a place like Sochi.

What happened to the pic?

There was already "terrorist activity" there just 2 weeks or so ago. Of course I don't expect anyone to have heard about it, too busy being bombarded by Justin Beiber's day to day. But I think 10 were killed in protest by Islamics, who apparently have a sort of stronghold up in the mountains near there.

I'm admittedly ignorant of most of what goes on in that region, but it doesn't take much to determine that it might have its risks. And if it does, yes, why hold them there, indeed.

Quote: Face

What happened to the pic?

I took down the pic because I thought I was being unnecessarily confrontational. Munich Germany to Salzburg, Austria is only 70 miles, and Salzburg was one of the three finalists for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Terrorism can strike anywhere.

That said, I still think the possibility goes up exponentially if you get right into the heartland of a troubled region. It may not be a particular problem for a Muscovite looking for a weekend retreat. When you bring all that symbolism and the eyes of the world right there a few miles away, it seems like you are just asking for an attempt.

Vancouver 2010 (2,566 athletes) reached a record potential audience of 3.8 billion people worldwide and approximately 1.8 billion viewers. There was almost double the amount of television coverage of Vancouver 2010 than there was for the Turin Games in 2006 and three times the amount available during Salt Lake City 2002, representing 31,902 hours of broadcast coverage in total.

Coverage was available on 235 TV stations and 100 websites around the world There were over 50,000 hours in total across all broadcast platforms More than 6,000 hours of coverage were delivered on mobile phones.

So if Sochi continues to grow in media coverage, it is simply too tempting of an opportunity. Hell, you can drive to there from Tehran in a day.

I agree that it seems a bizarre location, at least based on the little I've heard from the little attention I've paid it.

But then again, would bowing out due to possible threats like that be appropriate? Perhaps I've been sort of brainwashed by the "If we dont (insert action), the terrorists win" meme, but part of me contradicts my original thought that it's a dumb idea.

So, is it wise (or even possible) to try to avoid, or is it proper that we give terrorists the finger and go where we want?

Quote: Face

So, is it wise (or even possible) to try to avoid, or is it proper that we give terrorists the finger and go where we want?

The Committee consists of 100 people. Four are from USA, four from Russia, five from Switzerland, four from Great Britain, and fewer numbers from other countries. At least 10 people are from countries with large Muslim populations.

Ms Lydia Nsekera Burundi 2009
Mrs Rita Subowo Indonesia 2007
HRH Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein Jordan 2010
Syed Shahid Ali Pakistan 1996
General Mounir Sabet Egypt 1998
Ms Nawal El Moutawakel Morocco 1998 athletics (1984)
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah Kuwait 1992
Mr Toni Khoury Lebanon 1995
HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Qatar 2002
HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein United Arab Emirates 2007 equestrianism (2000)

So, I am sure that there is great political pressure to move the event from country to country and continent to continent. The event has never been held outside of Europe, USA, Canada or Japan.

The following Winter Olympics were held outside of Western Europe and North America.

1972 Japan Sapporo
1984 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Sarajevo
1998 Japan Nagano
2014 Russia Sochi
2018 South Korea Pyeongchang

Politics aside, it still seems like a huge risk.

Donations and scholarships to IOC children have always helped cities obtain designations. I think there was some scandal awhile ago about it, I doubt anything has changed.

Quote: Fleastiff

I think there was some scandal awhile ago about it, I doubt anything has changed.

Scandal broke Fall 1998

You would think Salt Lake City with it's massive infrastructure would be a shoo-in for the Winter Olympics. But they lost a bid five times (1932, 1972, 1976, 1992, 1998) Despite their efforts, the 1998 Games went to Nagano, Japan, in a 46-to-42 vote. Many felt the reason was that the US had recently been awarded the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Others, including Welch, believed it was because Nagano had better wined and dined the officials.

I have no idea why they chose Sochi, but I think terrorist threats are just that: threats. I am sure that all intelligence agencies around the world are focusing their efforts on making sure nothing bad happens there and I think the olympics will be safe.

Quote: boymimbo

I have no idea why they chose Sochi, but I think terrorist threats are just that: threats. I am sure that all intelligence agencies around the world are focusing their efforts on making sure nothing bad happens there and I think the olympics will be safe.

No doubt there was huge political pressure to expand beyond Europe, Northern America, and Japan. I am just saying that discretion may have made more sense over national pride.

1. Chamonix 1924
2. St. Moritz 1928
3. Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936
4. St. Moritz 1948
5. Oslo 1952
6. Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956
7. Innsbruck 1964
8. Grenoble 1968
9. Innsbruck 1976
10. Sarajevo 1984
11. Albertville 1992
12. Lillehammer 1994
13. Turin 2006
    
    
    1. Lake Placid 1932
    2. Squaw Valley 1960
    3. Lake Placid 1980
    4. Calgary 1988
    5. Salt Lake City 2002
    6. Vancouver 2010
       
       
       1. Sapporo 1972
       2. Nagano 1998
          
          
          
          1. Sochi 2014
          2. Pyeongchang 2018

Because other choices were Haiti and Middle of Ocean.