Sochi Olympics Used for Political Purposes

Before getting into the essence of this blog post, I want to take the time to acknowledge the importance and the purpose of the Olympics. I believe the Olympic Games are a celebration of sports, as well as the hard work each athlete and their families invested in sports, irrespective of the country they are from or their cultural background. Even though countries are competing against one another, it is an event that unites the world every two years. I think it is the prime example of equality because despite our differences, we see that we are all the same, passionate people about sports and life. This also reaffirms that every person in the world has the right to play sports. I wanted to remind myself and you the reader about the purpose of the Games because I think we sometimes forget the main reason for our participation, whether you are an athlete or a spectator watching from your home. In other words, the celebration of the Olympics can be very clouded by the political, racial, religious and sexual orientation issues that are discussed by the media.

Something that I think is ironic about these Sochi Games is that the Olympics are all about equality (as mentioned previously). However, not long before the Games, Putin passed an anti-gay propaganda law, which prohibits Russian people from speaking about gay, lesbian and transgender people in the presence of children. This, they say, is to “protect children” (1). Now let’s just take a moment to pause and think about how incredibly insensitive and horrible this new law is, especially in light of hosting the Olympics, an event that traditionally supports human rights. How does this law make participating gay and lesbian athletes feel, knowing that they would be going to a country that doesn't accept them? Is the intent to make them feel like second class citizens? In this respect, I think Russia is a backwards country because their policies do not consider the rights of the people who are being alienated and in some cases persecuted. If they don’t change their ideologies, they are going to repeat mistakes that have been made in the past (i.e. lack of women’s rights in various countries). 

Various countries were quite enraged with the new Russian law, so the Sochi Olympics was used as political platform by many participating countries. For instance, at the opening ceremony, many heads of countries were not present. Among the absent leaders, President Obama, David Cameron (British Prime Minister) and Angela Merkel (German Chancellor), Stephen Harper (Canadian Prime Minister) were the ones whose absence attracted a lot of attention (2). In addition, President Barack Obama made a point of sending several gay athletes to the Olympics to represent the United States and to show to the world that he believes in equality for all. He said, "One of the things I'm really looking forward to is maybe some gay and lesbian athletes bringing home the gold or silver or bronze, which would, I think, go a long way in rejecting the kind of attitudes that we're seeing there. And if Russia doesn't have gay or lesbian athletes, then it'll probably make their team weaker" (1).

In summary, the Olympics shouldn't be an outlet for countries making repressive political statements. The political issues detract from the uplifting and positive spirits of the Games. Also, the Olympics should only be hosted in countries that support human rights for all. Hopefully in the years to come, the Olympic organizing committee will select countries that are able to accept and treat all people equally. 

(1) http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/10/world/europe/russia-gay-rights-controversy/

(2)http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/olympics/bondy-missing-leaders-games-behin-olympic-games-article-1.1605471

Terrorism: A Major Obstacle of the 2014 Olympics

Ensuring safety at the Sochi Olympics seemed nearly unattainable with the major terrorist attack in Volgograd by two Black Widows mere months before the start of the Games (end of December 2013). Volgograd is a tourist destination roughly 640 km away from Sochi, which connects Sochi to the rest of Russia. This terrorist attack killed 34 people. They bombed Volgograd, killed taxi drivers and killed police who responded to these attacks (1). Russia needed to act to ensure a safe and secure venue especially with this incident which occurred so close to the time and home of the 2014 Olympics.

Russia invoked a “ring of security” which enveloped Sochi, and the United States also sent two warships to tighten the security at the shores of the Black Sea (1). Additionally, Sochi was swarmed with 100,000 soldiers and police officers, and adopted security measures, such as surveillance technology and rocket launchers located in the hills (2). In fact, the number of people who were employed in security for the 2014 Winter Games were double the amount employed for the London Olympics (1). In the past 13 years (since the founding of the Black Widows terrorist group after the war between Russia and Chechnya) there have been 124 suicide attacks in Russia (3). Why would you ever want to risk hosting an Olympic Games in the mist of that potential danger?  

Warning of Black Widow terrorists in a mall in Sochi

During the months leading up to the Games, the police swept the Sochi area, searching through many houses as if expecting to find a terrorist. The ideology in Russia is security equals control; however, this concept falls short of reality. They invaded the locals’ homes, ignored human rights and disrupted the residents’ lives (3). The police never found a terrorist, therefore, I think that their efforts were misguided and poorly judged. If a terrorist group was planning on taking advantage of this world stage to get media attention, they could have planned well ahead and entered Sochi prior to the increase in security. Around two weeks prior to the Olympics (as mentioned in the previous post), a couple of Black Widows were seen in Sochi. Hence, this method of protection was very ineffective.

Chechen brothers responsible for the Boston bombing

I thought it would be fitting to draw some parallels between what could have happened at the Olympics this year and what happened at the Boston marathon last year. The Boston bombing shows the impact of such a tragedy at non-political events, and the harsh reality that we don’t often experience in North America. The Boston bombing was so surprising and unexpected, and it scarred many lives. However, at the Sochi Olympics we could have foreseen an attempted bombing due to the vicinity of Chechnya and the Republic of Dagestan. The two brothers who bombed the Boston marathon were Chechens from Dagestan. If Chechen terrorists were able to cause damage in a place so far from Chechnya, they could have potentially been able to attack an event a couple hours away. Another comparison that could be made between the marathon and the Olympics is that they both involve a large gathering of people. Thus, they were major targets for terrorist attacks. 

Thankfully there were no terrorist attacks at the 2014 Olympics. If I was an athlete competing in the Olympics, I’m not so sure that I would have had the courage to go to the Sochi Games and if I did, I think I would have been distracted by this threat. I don’t think I would have put my life at risk for sports, especially considering the tragic event that happened in Boston last year. At this year’s Boston marathon, the runners were very brave in returning to the place were terrible memories were created and hearts were broken. I agree with this year’s runners in Boston; I still think that we can’t let such threats control our lives (they proved that this past weekend). However, the tough decision of risking your life to compete at the Olympics could have been prevented for the 2014 Games, by selecting another location. So Putin got lucky. In the future, the Olympic committee should take the surrounding areas into greater consideration when choosing the host city, to reduce the chance of terrorist threats.  

(1) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-glyn-williams/the-brides-of-allah-the-t_b_4761027.html

(2) http://www.dw.de/sochi-the-most-extravagant-winter-olympics-ever/a-17411857
(3) http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/sochi-security-venues-safe-but-suicide-bombers-feared-1.2518208

Terrorism: Historical Perspective

Up until this point I realize that I've often mentioned political issues in Russia, but I've never actually taken the time to talk about them. Now half way through this blogging project I think I should start tackling this major obstacle that has affected the Sochi Olympics. The next two posts will focus on the terrorism and security issues in Sochi as it pertains to the safety of the Olympians and those who are participating in the Olympics. I will discuss this topic in two parts as it is such a large and complicated topic. In this blog I will be elaborating more so on the historical terrorist activities in Russia, and in the following post I will talk more about its direct impact on the Olympics this year.

The history of the Olympic Games shows evidence of terrorist attacks including the bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Games where two were killed at the Olympic Park (1) and the massacre at the 1972 Munich Games where 11 participants and 5 terrorists were brutally killed (2). Thus, with the current political tensions in Russia and the terrorist incidents near Sochi not long before the Games (I will elaborate more in the following post), it was a huge risk to travel to Sochi and participate in the 2014 Olympics. Sochi is located near Chechnya which has been a war zone in Europe, and the Republic of Dagestan. Chechnya has been in conflict with the rest of Russia for decades and there is a dangerous terrorist group called Caucasus Emirate that is based in Dagestan. Putin’s so called safe and morally proper Russia didn’t appear very true to his description, with such a bloody history in proximity to this worldwide gathering. Russia feared that at least three “Black Widows” have managed to get in to the supposedly protected Olympic area weeks before the arrival of the athletes, spectators and journalists. Black Widows are female suicide bombers, also known as “Living Bombs” who have killed hundreds of people in the past decade (3).

Caucasus Mountains

To paint the full picture, Chechnya escaped Moscow’s rule in the late 1900s through a war, however in 1999, Russia fought to regain control of Chechnya. The Russians destroyed the cities of Chechnya (including its capital, Grozny) with bombs and in the process thousands of Chechens were killed. A few Chechen rebels escaped to the Caucasus Mountains, and what was left of Chechnya was forced through a “cleansing operation”. In other words, the Russians sent thousands of Chechen men to a “filtration camp” where they were tortured and many killed. This incident stimulated the surviving Chechens to commit suicide attacks which began in 2000. This terrorist group is called the “Black Widows” because many of these women are widows due to the fact that the Russians killed their husbands and other loved ones. This group may have begun to commit such acts to revenge their losses, however it now appears that suicide bombing has become an act of faith to their cult. In fact, Chechen women are apparently indoctrinated into this terrible lifestyle at an early age (from age 16) (3).

Black Widow

These dangerous women have blown up everything from buses and trains to planes and metros, therefore it was not only necessary to watch Sochi itself, but all modes of transportation were also potential targets for this terrorist group. The Black Widows hate Russia and President Vladimir Putin (became president in 1999 after destroying Chechnya) so much that Russia needed to carefully keep watch over Sochi because this group would go to great lengths to cause trouble and wreak havoc.

President Vladimir Putin

After researching about terrorist activities that have occurred over the past couple of decades in Russia, it appears the Russian government policy was always at the center of these conflicts. I think it comes down to one’s moral choices and many of the decisions made by the Russian government seemed to be in my opinion questionable at best. Russia shouldn't have destroyed Chechnya and tortured and killed Chechens. These actions did not resolve the situations but they triggered the actions of the Chechens to retaliate with even more violence. The Russian government’s main goal seems to be the total control of its people, and seeing the result of their actions and the means they used to achieve this level of control certainly warrants a morality check, in my opinion. I really cannot understand how the IOC, knowing Russia’s recent history, could have given Russia the opportunity to host a worldwide event when the Russian government obviously can’t even handle running their own country without resorting to extreme measures.  

(1) http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/18/us/olympic-park-bombing-fast-facts/

(2) http://history1900s.about.com/od/famouscrimesscandals/p/munichmassacre.htm

(3) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-glyn-williams/the-brides-of-allah-the-t_b_4761027.html

Winter Olympics in a Subtropical Region

As previously mentioned, I think having the Winter Olympics in Sochi was definitely a bad idea because of the outrageous expenses, the political issues and the environmental problems. Well, here is another reason why I think that this location was a very risky choice for holding the Winter Games:

Snow storage

Snow cannon

Sochi is located on the eastern coast of Russia, on the Black Sea, therefore it isn't typically known for its winter weather. So, is there a logical reason why a winter based event that requires snow and ski slopes was held in a subtropical city? You’d think that the lack of snow at the previous Winter Games (i.e. Vancouver) would have pushed the location of the Olympics to a city that is very cold. This would ensure appropriate temperatures for the outdoor events, like skiing and snowboarding. But, I guess the Sochi organizers were aware of the snow issue that occurred in the last 2010 Winter Olympics because they prepared contingency plans well in advance. With the average temperature of 52 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter in Sochi, they needed to make sure there would be an adequate supply of snow. To ensure they were prepared for unfavorable conditions, Russia spent tons of money on a large snow making system from Europe (consisting of water reservoirs that would supply snow for 400 snow cannons along the courses). They also gathered 710,000 cubic meters of snow from the winters prior to the Games. The organizers stored this snow in colder mountainous regions to keep it from melting, and they were able to use it when there was a need for snow (1). In comparison, the organizers of the Vancouver Olympics used helicopters to transport the snow to various sites and they covered hay bales with snow on various tracks to create mounds (2). Despite the warm temperatures, Sochi managed to overcome the natural conditions by using artificial and stored snow.

Why would you want to transform a nice tropical destination to a location where you hope to have outdoor winter sports competitions? If the Olympics were hosted in a city better suited for winter competitions, the money spent on the snow making system could have been used for more important things, such as environmental protection. In any case, I think the palm trees and the nice beaches probably added to the festive Winter Olympic atmosphere!

Nevertheless, with climate change (variability) I feel that no matter where the Olympics would have been held, there would have been a risk of a lack of snow and warm temperatures. I think the Winter Olympics sites that are to come, are going to be increasingly difficult to select as global warming is becoming more prominent. The IOC needs to examine and take into greater consideration the climate of the future host cities for the Winter Games. I also think that an increasing amount of cities are no longer going to actually be able to hold the Winter Olympics, due to the climate. What does the future of outdoor winter sports look like with this unpredictable climate? Are some of these events going to withstand the test of global warming? Will we only be left with indoor winter sports such as speed skating, figure skating, hockey, and curling?

(1)http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/4/5377356/sochi-winter-olympics-2014-subtropical-transformation/in/5141015
(2)http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/02/140221-climate-change-winter-olympics-global-warming-science/

Environmental Issues

When Russia submitted their bid to host the Olympics, they promised to provide environmentally friendly venues for the Games. However, the organizers obviously didn't keep their agreement, as the construction harmed the environment in Sochi. In fact, those who tried to bring forward evidence of the environmental problems were exiled from Russia (1). Ironically in 2013, Russia celebrated environmental protection and awareness, while in Sochi, environmental degradation was occurring due to the Olympic construction. A non-profit organisation has been fighting to save the unique Sochi ecosystems because they think the Olympic preparation has been the primary source of ecological deterioration. They have tried alerting the IOC, but despite their efforts, they were unable to stop the destruction of the environment (2).

Here is an overview of the main impacts of the Olympic construction on the environment:

Illegal waste dump in the mountains

Sochi National Park is Russia’s environmental treasure. The pristine and delicate mountain ecosystem, and the largest variety of animal and plant species in all of Russia are a few of the highlights of this region (3). Unfortunately, the Winter Games caused a decrease in the biodiversity in such an enriched environment. This was largely due to deforestation of over 3,000 hectares of park land, the destruction of various habitats, and the loss of wetlands because of the Olympic Village. These events and the construction of a ski resort have also caused landslides, erosion, avalanches and mudslides in the mountains (2). Likewise, Mzymta River has been impacted by the construction of the railway and highway between the Olympic sites (3). Large power plants are being built which will also affect the environment (i.e. Kudepstinskaya thermal power station) (2). Additionally, the mountains were polluted by waste dumps, as a result of the excessive construction. These activities destroyed the habitats and the migration routes of native animals like bears and Alpine ibex (5).

Before (bottom) and After (top)

Not only was the environment disturbed, but human rights weren't respected. The lives of around 2,000 residents of Sochi were completely ruined by the landslides and the construction of the new highway. Houses were demolished with poor or no compensation for their loss, agricultural land (which was a large source of food) disappeared, renting out beachfront property is no longer a source of income, and drinking water was less accessible. Residents who have lived in Sochi for decades were suddenly homeless (4). The locals are emotionally attached to the mountains, the environment and the ecosystems, and the preparation for the Olympics impacted them as well (2).

Toxic waste in Mzymta River

You might be wondering why I’m describing to such an extent the environmental destruction in Sochi. Well, seeing as the location was partially chosen because of its beauty and its terrain, it is so unfortunate that it has been exploited. It seems that Russia was covering up and ignoring the environmental issues in the Sochi area (shores of the Black Sea and the mountains of the Caucasus). Laws designed to protect the environment were either changed or ignored (3). These laws were established to conserve the rare ecosystems in Russia, however, that became secondary to the economic and political benefits of hosting the Olympic Games. Now that the Olympics are over, has the short-term economic stimulation compensated for the long-term damage of an entire environment?

(1) http://time.com/2828/sochi-winter-olympics-environmental-damage/

(2) http://ens-newswire.com/2013/02/11/dark-side-of-the-sochi-winter-olympics-environmental-damage/

(3) http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/elist/eListRead/speeding_towards_environmental_disaster_in_the_2014_winter_olympics/

(4)http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/rights/Olympics-leaves-sochi-residents-displaced-and-unpaid-part-1

(5) http://www.dw.de/sochi-the-most-extravagant-winter-olympics-ever/a-17411857