Winter Olympics 2014

[UK Redsox]

As much as I despise Russia's human rights / anti-equality / anti-freedom laws, I'm not in favour of boycotting Sochi.

I like the approach that the USA is taking, ie not sending any high ranking politicians and packing the official delegation with openly gay ex-athletes. I hope that Team GB takes the same approach.

Moving on to the sport itself............................

I see that the Jamaicans have qualified a team in the two-man Bob again this year.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/winter-olympics/10585329/Winter-Olympics-2014-Jamaican-bobsleigh-crew-qualify-for-Sochi-to-set-up-Cool-Runnings-II.html

I don't know whey the press are dubbing this "Cool Runnings II"; after their initial fame in 1988, the team qualified for the next four straight Olympics*.


Lindsay Vonn is out of the women's "hurtling down a mountain on two planks" competition.


Vanessa Mae will be skiing for Thailand -
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/winter-olympics/10585539/Winter-Olympics-2014-Violin-superstar-Vanessa-Mae-to-ski-for-Thailand-in-Sochi-Games.html


(* the kind of Olympics that Russian leaders really want)

[Ads]

Jamaica they got a bobsled team.

[SashasGrandad]

If Vanessa Mae is going. Some are saying our Nige would be also be good at the Winter Olympics as he knows the 4 seasons well.

[UK Redsox]

For a country that's not supposed to like that sort of thing, some of the men's toilets in Sochi are pretty intimate

[villa kicks]

3 to 5 medals likely no more no less

I see the skeleton , curling and ski disciplines as the chances .. all women to get medals too !!

[lovejoy]

Won't watch, Putin is using this as a propaganda tool for his totalitarian state where he strives for almost cult like status. Rank corruption oozes through the political class whilst millions are in poverty.
Plus it's dull.

[Dave Cooper please]

3 to 5 medals likely no more no less

I see the skeleton , curling and ski disciplines as the chances .. all women to get medals too !!

Don't write off the men's 4 man bobsleigh who have had some very decent results this year and if Kristian Bromley can put two decent runs together he has a chance in the skeleton (fastest 2nd run of the day in a World Cup event yesterday, shite 1st run though).

I've been doing my research ready to sound all clever once it starts!

[UK Redsox]

Dan Snow's documentary last night on the history of the Winter Olympics was pretty good.

He even pointed out that the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" hockey match between the USA and Soviet Union was not the final game. I expect that there's a lot of Americans who forget that the USA still had to beat Finland to win the Gold Medal.

[cdbearsfan]

It was ok. A bit too much focus on that horrendous ice dancing "sport" though.

Looking forward to the ski and snowboard cross events. Had never seen either until four years ago and really enjoyed them. I'll also be watching the lube, skellington and robertsleigh as well as the curling if Scotland, sorry Britain, look like they might win a medal.

[UK Redsox]

It was ok. A bit too much focus on that horrendous ice dancing "sport" though.

I keep banging on about my "Competitive Arts Olympics" idea for all events that require subjective judging but will the IOC listen, will they feck.

[cdbearsfan]

They used to have something like that. In the old days you could win Olympic medals in things like poetry, painting and sculpture.

[Dave Cooper please]

Olympic soggy biscuit?

[cdbearsfan]

Don't give Putin ideas.

It strikes me as surprising that someone as homophobic as him would spend a fortune to host the Winter Olympics which is, let's face it, really gay. "We have no homosexuals in Russia. Now get out of my way I'm trying to watch the man in the sequins continue his pretty ice dance".

[UK Redsox]

Putin is like one of those Evangelical Preachers from the southern USA. Despite all his anti-gay spoutings, sooner or later you know he'll be caught in a motel with a transvestite hooker.

[UK Redsox]

All I want is a room with a view
A sight worth seeing, a vision of you
All I want is a room with view, oh-oh
I will give you my finest hour
The one I spent watching you shower


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/06/russia-journalists-sochi-hotels-sying_n_4739400.html