Alright, I couldn't even type that with a straight face.
We aren't even 24 hours in to the games yet, and I know you've all started glazing over headlines about security cautions, LGBT protests, and the media superstorm regarding unfinished venues.
There seems to be 3 types of people I've noticed leading up to today's Opening Ceremony, see if you fit in any of these categories:
The Patriot: Decked out in national colours, every bit of flag related apparel, knows the entire event schedule and is a walking talking livestream of the games, inserting 'GO [INSERT COUNTRY] GO' into every conversation when applicable.
The Cynic: Is boycotting the games, protesting with a mile long list of civic issues, has lost faith in the organization as a whole and is pretty much a giant dark cloud of despair for the next two weeks.
The Doesn't-Give-A-Shit: meh I don't care about sports really so-WHAT DO YOU MEAN MY FAVOURITE TV SHOW IS ON A 3 WEEK HIATUS.
You get the idea.
But when any one of these people interact with another, get ready for long passionate rants ('BUT YOU GOTTA SUPPORT THE ATHLETES') that all have valid points ('THE GAMES HIDE CORRUPTION IN SPECTACLE') albeit all start sounding the same after a while ('BUT IT ENDED ON A CLIFFHANGER').
It's even harder when this is all going on inside your head. The fact of the matter is that I love the Olympics but am feeling extremely uncomfortable with the politics that surround this year's games (and yes that TV show did end on a cliffhanger).
The LGBT issues have hit very close to home for me, but I can see where some are arguing that the unrest it has caused is starting conversations and bringing awareness on a global scale, and athletes are going to have the opportunity and drive to win in face of discrimination.
But the LGBT right issue is not the only thing that is political revolving around the Sochi Games. Russia has a lot of tensions with a lot of countries. Though Russia's artistic culture that will no doubt be showcased in the Opening Ceremony is a rich and beautiful one, it doesn't mean the world's politics goes on hold for two weeks. Because the world is literally watching, these tensions give rise to risk of terrorist attacks and other such demonstrations. Many are on edge over safety concerns for the athletes, families, media, supporters, etc and are fed up of the ignoring of civil unrest to spectacle.
Obviously, Sochi is not the first place where these problems have occurred. Each venue has had its problems: Great Britain had security issues, Vancouver had last minute venue difficulties, China displaced entire cities and muted their voices, Salt Lake City was the first Post 9/11 Olympics .... the list goes on.
Sochi seems to be dealing with all of these things put in to a blending pot, and it comes at a time when people are fed up. The LGBT rights issue was the spark that lit a flame of unrest regarding social and political issues that have been plaguing not only Russia but the games for years.
The Olympics are meant to be about peaceful sport and the spirit of the athletes is where the heart of the games lies. It is a paradox where some say we must leave our politics at the door and focus solely on the sport, and where others say that politics are needed in order to participate ethically in peaceful sport. There will always be those two sides (or ever expanding sides).
Regardless, I think the thing to take away is to be conscious of what the Sochi Olympics are. We can't watch blindly and take the first observations that are handed us as the truth, but we also can't get so wrapped up in our political ventures that we forget the athletes who train their entire lives for this moment.
An example of commentary done right, has to be in today's simple Google Doodle for the games that has been making headlines for its cheeky and somewhat passive-aggressive reminder of the Olympic Charter to the political and Olympic leaders.
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| I see what you did there Google... |
It's going to be an interesting two weeks, and I think we can all agree...in the end we're going to want our TV shows back.
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