2014 Sochi Winter Olympics

[Natalka]

opening ceremony rehearsal



The Sochi edition is reported to include 3,500 fireworks and a performance from the pop duo tATu.

Russia is likely to show off its music and ballet history as well its considerable lineup of famous composers and artists, from Tchaikovsky to Rachmaninoff and Tolstoy.

Sochi's Winter Olympics will begin with what is certain to be an opulent, expansive Opening Ceremony on Friday, and the centerpiece of any such ceremony is the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron. The person chosen to light the flame is traditionally one of stature in the host country, and his or her selection is a matter of great national honor and pride.
So naturally, a rumor is spreading that it's going to be Vladimir Putin's alleged girlfriend:
Alina Kabayeva, 2004 Olympic rhythmic gymnastics gold medalist. She's one of the most decorated gymnasts in Russian history, so she'd be a reasonable choice to participate in the flame-lighting ceremony. She's also been linked in media speculation to Putin, who is single, since at least 2008.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympi...225441885.html

[Natalka]

SOCHI, Russia – There are three villages for the 7,000-plus athletes in the Sochi Olympics. The largest is the Coastal Cluster near the main venues, with two more (Mountain and Extreme) located near the skiing, snowboarding and sledding competitions.



The villages each have replicas of the Olympic rings that are low to the ground and large enough to climb on.


The athletes’ accommodations in every Olympics are usually of a small apartment or dorm quality, but the Sochi rooms went one step further: Sleeping three athletes to a room.



Cell phone tower




There are a few places in each village where athletes can leave their mark on the Games.
A large glass etching is found near the square where athletes are honored, and they cover it with messages.




Each of the Olympic villages has a 24-hour McDonalds. The one at the Coastal Cluster featured a Ronald McDonald statue that became a giant guest book for athletes, writing their names and honoring their teams:

[Natalka]

A sign that says "We do not serve FBI and CIA agents," hangs outside a restaurant on the opening day of the 2014 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia.

[Lynn49]

WHY does their anthem make me cry?!

Anyone else watching it live?

[Patty Smyth]

WHY does their anthem make me cry?!

Anyone else watching it live?

Flipping back and forth Rosie is on the View

[Lynn49]

Athletes arriving...

[Lynn49]

Did you notice that the Russian gal in white had to wear a long skirt and have her hair covered for the Iran team?

[Patty Smyth]

We look goooooood

[Lynn49]

If someone doesn't't shut McLean the hell up, I'm going to scream! Better yet, I'm heading out forvmy weigh-in and will watch the NBC broadcast tonight...maybe they have the good sense to stay quiet so we can enjoy it!!!!

[Natalka]

Didn't watch live, will have to watch re-broadcast tonight.
interesting that NBC didn't have it live, just will be on tonight.

Lynn, I'd rather listen to anyone else talk - just glad that Brian Williams isn't broadcasting any more!

Patty, your fave washroom has been converted to a utility room

[Lynn49]

Well, I emailed and called the CBC and spoke with a 'customer relations' guy and asked if anyone there could please shut him up! I'm surprised he didn't translate the anthem when the male choir was singing it! GADS!!! So I went out, got weighed in (-l lb since Wednesday!), took Jenny for her pawdicure, bought a few things for our dressing-room that I'm redecorating, and now I will make Herbal Magic chili and NOT watch it all being re-broadcast! GAH!!!I'll watch the NBC re-run tonight and hope they have the good sense to stay quiet and let us enjoy the music, the dancing and the broadcast.

[Natalka]

[Natalka]

Team Ukraine

[GoJays]

Argh, I was only now just able to sit down and watch.

[Darth Penguin]

Passenger tried to hijack plane to Sochi

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish security forces on Friday detained a Ukrainian plane passenger suspected of making a bomb threat in an attempt to hijack a flight to Sochi, Russia, where the Winter Olympics were opening under tight security.
An F-16 fighter was scrambled as soon as the pilot on the flight from Kharkiv, Ukraine, signaled there was a hijacking attempt and then escorted the plane safely to its original destination in Istanbul, according to NTV television.
Authorities snuck onto the plane and subdued the suspected hijacker while the other 109 passengers were being evacuated, Huseyin Avni Mutlu, the Istanbul governor, told reporters at Sabiha Gokcen airport. The man was slightly injured during the struggle, but no weapons were used, he said. The man did not have a bomb on him, he said.