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Sochi 2014 related news


oakydoky

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You are probably the only one indeed - the only one linking a construction failure with a questionable HR record.

Not exactly, what I meant is that Standard Human Rights is your right of Privacy in the Toilets. In this case, there is no privacy.

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Not exactly, what I meant is that Standard Human Rights is your right of Privacy in the Toilets. In this case, there is no privacy.

And you think constructing a toilet like this was fully intended to deprive people of some basic HR? Instead of being a complete and ridiculous blunder?

*imagines Putin signing a decree to build the toilets like that and rubbing his hands about "giving those spoiled Westerners a real lesson"*

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While the sight of twin toilets is unusual in European parts of Russia, it is not unknown, as Russian journalist Nikita Likhachev revealed, blogging about the story for Russian news website Tjournal.

Examples collected on his blog (in Russian) include facilities apparently to be found in other sports venues and even restaurants.

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25830617)

http://tjournal.ru/paper/two-closets

BebhstmCIAAPikp.jpg

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I'm sure that Rogge is breathing a sigh of relief, though.

Rogge didn't exactly have it easy, either. He walked into the job a month or two after 9/11 (which would be a scary event from the perspective of the Olympic movement) and to top it off an Olympics opening only a few months later in that very country. What a nightmare. Lucky for him SLC2002 was awesome. Oh, and Athens preparations for 2004 were looking really dire.

Rogge didn't have it easy at all. Bach will be fine.

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South Africa denies young skier a spot in 2014 Sochi Olympics - LA Times
By David Wharton

January 24, 2014, 8:53 a.m.

A young skier. From a poor region of South Africa. A place where snow falls only occasionally.

Sive Speelman had all the ingredients to become a sentimental favorite at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

But now his national Olympic committee has decided not to send the slalom racer to Russia, despite the fact that he has qualified under international rules.

Speelman would have been his country's only participant and one of a relative few from the African continent. Officials with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee ruled that he is not good enough by their standards, a decision that has sparked a social media backlash.

"What a sad day ... it is an embarrassment to sport and the Olympic ideals," Alex Heath, a three-time Winter Olympian from South Africa and Speelman's coach, posted on his Facebook page.

Speelman said: "Well all my hard work has gone to nothing, all to thank SASCOC."

Though ranked 2,290th in the world in his event, the 18-year-old skier met a lower Olympic qualification standard. Olympic rules allow his national committee to intercede and allow him to compete.

"After due consideration and taking into account all the facts relating to the matter, SASCOC as the National Olympic Committee, unfortunately will not be delivering him to the Winter Olympic Games," the committee stated in a release.

The Games have something of a history with underdog athletes. Ski jumper Eddie Edwards made headlines as "Eddie the Eagle" when he participated for Great Britain at the 1988 Calgary Games. Eric Moussambani -- called "Eric the Eel" -- swam for Equatorial Guinea at the 2000 Sydney Games

A page called "Sive Speelman's Olympic Dream" has popped up on Facebook, drawing supporters for his cause.

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Is it just me or is the two warships the states a sign that something will surely happen? Or is it just a sign that the US doesn't have the confidence in Russia that they would another country like Great Britain to protect their people?

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Olympic Athletes Cautioned on Wearing Team USA Clothing Outside Venues - WSJ

USOC Memo Warns Athletes Amid Security Concerns

By

Rachel Bachman and

Sara Germano

Updated Jan. 24, 2014 11:01 a.m. ET

BN-BF293_012314_G_20140123143817.jpg

Zach Parise (left) and Julie Chu (right) wear the Team USA Opening Ceremony uniform designed by Ralph Lauren. Reuters

The U.S. unveiled more of its Winter Olympic uniforms Thursday, but officials are cautioning athletes to keep theirs under wraps outside the games' venues.

A memo sent to athletes by the U.S. Olympic Committee cautions them to avoid wearing team colors too prominently in Sochi amid heightened concerns about security in the southern Russian resort town.

"The U.S. Department of State has advised that wearing conspicuous Team USA clothing in non-accredited areas may put your personal safety at greater risk," says the memo, which was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

The memo details other steps that athletes can take to ensure their safety while in Sochi, including enrolling in a State Department traveler program.

Greg Bretz, a snowboard half-pipe rider preparing for his second Olympics, said in an interview Thursday that U.S. Olympic officials "have told us not to wear our USA gear outside of the venues," but added, "I have so much faith in the United States and our safety that I'm not too worried about it."

Officials caution athletes about safety at each Olympics, but the warning about Team USA gear seemed new to Bretz, who also competed four years ago in Vancouver and said he received no such warning then.

The USOC declined to comment on the memo but reiterated a statement from Chief Executive Scott Blackmun, who said the committee is working with the State Department, local organizers and law enforcement to ensure athletes' safety. The State Department didn't respond to a request for comment.

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Everyone take a moment to read this blog post written by a Canadian who has gone to Sochi to design the snowboardcross course, as he did in Vancouver. His experience in Sochi so far has been unbelievable. He was apparently told to take down the blog post and photos, but fortunately the page is archived:

http://web.archive.org/web/20140124002353/http://johnniebalfour.tumblr.com

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Everyone take a moment to read this blog post written by a Canadian who has gone to Sochi to design the snowboardcross course, as he did in Vancouver. His experience in Sochi so far has been unbelievable. He was apparently told to take down the blog post and photos, but fortunately the page is archived:

http://web.archive.org/web/20140124002353/http://johnniebalfour.tumblr.com

Link doesn't work for me, but the closer the they get, I think the less enjoyable these two weeks will become. It is just depressing to read all kinds of stuff that will certainly at least cast a shadow over the atmosphere, even if nothing actually happens in terms of terrorist attacks.

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I agree that this has been the most depressing buildup to any Games in a long time, especially since it's been virtually non-stop since last July. Once the Games begin though, it's all about the athletes and the competition. I generally black out any non-official news sources and only visit official Olympic related websites, and GamesBids (though my presence is more scarce).

It's a shame that it has all come to this. I really wanted a Games in Russia for a long time since I feel I, and all Americans, got screwed in 1980. I think one will be enough for a long time, especially if we have to deal with this all over when the 2018 World Cup comes around.

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