Sochi Winter Olympics Open Thread

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The olympics is about all countries of the world coming together in peace and harmony. I felt it was very well done. I am a dual citizen (Canada and US), and when Canada hosted they showed their history also. No complaints about that. When the USA hosted, they also showed their history, which also was acceptable. Now it’s Russia’s turn. This is their history whether we like it or not. The opening ceremonies were very well done, and in good taste, considering their history. We, nor they, should ignore their history, but embrace it, and learn from it, and hopefully not repeat it.
 
Canuck000 said:
The olympics is about all countries of the world coming together in peace and harmony. I felt it was very well done. I am a dual citizen (Canada and US), and when Canada hosted they showed their history also. No complaints about that. When the USA hosted, they also showed their history, which also was acceptable. Now it’s Russia’s turn. This is their history whether we like it or not. The opening ceremonies were very well done, and in good taste, considering their history. We, nor they, should ignore their history, but embrace it, and learn from it, and hopefully not repeat it.
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Do you happen to remember how the USA handled slavery and civil rights? I can’t recall seeing anything about it, but I have missed many of the openings and closings.

Can barely remember what I had for dinner last night:)
 
they sure sugarcoated the real history of communism - I watched the opening ceremonies (not by choice) and I was like…where is the TRUE history? where is the terror against christians? where is the killing of Millions of innocent people? That’s what the TRUE history was…

If I watch any olympics this season…it might be HOCKEY, but ONLY if they get to the gold medal round (still waiting for “Miracle” part 2 to occur). I used to like watching figure skating during the Nancy Kerrigan years…but not that interested anymore. I still remember years ago when the winter olympics was the same year as the summer olympics (i think it was 1992) and speeding through our family rosary so we could watch Dan Jansen speed skate…and win his Gold Medal.
 
Well, I guess that’s what foreigners do. I seem to remember quite a bit of chattering when Queen Mother flew into the arena in London.

And some of the chattering was coming from across the pond, if my memory serves me correctly.😛
 
gam197 said:
What was that about? I saw a red balloon and though it was about that story “The Red Balloon” but I don’t think that is a Russian author.

How about the little girl that walked on everyone hands?

Here is an article on mysteries solved although I did not see the athlete fall.

sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/mysteries-solved–answering-some-pivotal-questions-from-the-opening-ceremony-233247755.html
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I think the little girl filled a couple of roles:
Youth, obviously, which also points toward the future. And since she went throughout the alphabetical (or whatever continuity as she appeared again in parts of history and Russian fairytales. Then she ascended step upwards, letting go of the red balloon symbolizing letting go of the past and moving toward a new future. That’s what I gleaned from commentary and how I interpreted it.
 
I would like to have seen a commemoration of the defeat of Napoleon with the 1812 Overture.
 
Bob_Crowley said:
I’ve got a brother in law who competed in the 1980’s Olympics in Moscow. The then Prime Minister offered our Olympic competitors a certain amount of money ($5000?) not to compete. The brother in law refused. In his own words he’d trained too hard and too long for a bunch of politicians to stuff it up.
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Good for him. I felt badly for the athletes who trained hard and were looking forward to competing. For many, due to eligibility, etc. that was their only chance to compete in the games. I have no idea if the boycott did any good. 🤷
 
jediliz said:
they sure sugarcoated the real history of communism - I watched the opening ceremonies (not by choice) and I was like…where is the TRUE history? where is the terror against christians? where is the killing of Millions of innocent people? That’s what the TRUE history was…

If I watch any olympics this season…it might be HOCKEY, but ONLY if they get to the gold medal round (still waiting for “Miracle” part 2 to occur). I used to like watching figure skating during the Nancy Kerrigan years…but not that interested anymore. I still remember years ago when the winter olympics was the same year as the summer olympics (i think it was 1992) and speeding through our family rosary so we could watch Dan Jansen speed skate…and win his Gold Medal.
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It’s the Olympic opening ceremony, not the most critical review of history you can present. :rolleyes: Communism is a major part of their modern history, and yes there were some terrible things that came out of the communist era, but there were some good things too. They industrialized, the built their railroads, they had some major scientific advancement and their space program came out of that era. (May I remind you that they still have a manned space program, which they let American astronauts ride along, and the US does not).

I thought the opening ceremony was well done. I enjoyed it much more than the London or the Vancouver opening ceremonies. The symbols they used for the communism part where instantly recognizable, and the red cast to everything made it intimidating and “unpleasant.” Not showing it as a happy go lucky communist utopia. I do feel they could have highlighted the performance arts a little more. The ballet part was beautiful, and the people in the wheels of the industrial part was nice, but not highlighted.
 
The opening ceremonies were beautiful and I watched the ice skating team event on Thursday, which was great. The Japanese mens skater was incredible.
 
Seamus_L said:
(…)
Best Team Outfits. Spain
Worst Team Outfits. Germany
Oddest Team Outfits. Taiwan followed by Kyrgyzstan

(…)
All for now.
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My votes -

Best Team Outfits: Poland then Russia.
Worst Team Outfits: Ireland (Why a dull green? They didn’t have to go in the direction of shamrocks either. I have some ideas for you, Ireland, in 2018. Call me.)
Oddest Team Outfits: retina damaging Kyrgyzstan and Slovenia. I didn’t hate them. I’d wear them if I had to. Odd can grow on me.

I did like the USA’s sweaters even though they are being compared to “ugly Christmas sweaters.” It was a nice contrast with all the puffy jackets. Plus they were made in the US (not China) and even the wool is home grown.
 
Something on the birth of Christianity in Russia, with an icon or two sure would have been nice. Instead we got Tatu. I defend Vladimir Putin on this forum alot, but I have to admit he dropped the ball on that one, big time.
 
Canuck000 said:
The olympics is about all countries of the world coming together in peace and harmony. I felt it was very well done. I am a dual citizen (Canada and US), and when Canada hosted they showed their history also. No complaints about that. When the USA hosted, they also showed their history, which also was acceptable. Now it’s Russia’s turn. This is their history whether we like it or not. The opening ceremonies were very well done, and in good taste, considering their history. We, nor they, should ignore their history, but embrace it, and learn from it, and hopefully not repeat it.
Click to expand...
👍
 
jediliz said:
they sure sugarcoated the real history of communism - I watched the opening ceremonies (not by choice) and I was like…where is the TRUE history? where is the terror against christians? where is the killing of Millions of innocent people? That’s what the TRUE history was…
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Yes, they showed their history but I don’t think the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics is the right time or place to flog themselves over incidents that none of them there had anything to do with.
If I watch any olympics this season…it might be HOCKEY, but ONLY if they get to the gold medal round (still waiting for “Miracle” part 2 to occur). I used to like watching figure skating during the Nancy Kerrigan years…but not that interested anymore. I still remember years ago when the winter olympics was the same year as the summer olympics (i think it was 1992) and speeding through our family rosary so we could watch Dan Jansen speed skate…and win his Gold Medal.
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I wasn’t planning on watching anything but I caught the spirit and now I feel like I’m live blogging or something. 😛 I missed the last winter games and I guess I’m hungry for it.
 
Seamus_L said:
Something on the birth of Christianity in Russia, with an icon or two sure would have been nice. Instead we got Tatu. I defend Vladimir Putin on this forum alot, but I have to admit he dropped the ball on that one, big time.
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Oh, my goooooshhh. :ouch:Tatu’s song was played for about 3 minutes (and worked with the quasi-electronica that accompanied other countries) but you also got Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, and ballet based on novel by Tolstoy. I noticed NBC didn’t really talk about those things or the fairytales and history but CBC did. Either CBC did their homework and NBC didn’t or NBC and others are just focusing on the things of little consequence (opening ceremony-wise.)
 
Seamus_L said:
Something on the birth of Christianity in Russia, with an icon or two sure would have been nice. Instead we got Tatu. I defend Vladimir Putin on this forum alot, but I have to admit he dropped the ball on that one, big time.
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"The 18-chapter, nearly three-hour opening ceremony began at the symbolic moment of 8:14 p.m. — 20:14, as time is counted here — and provided a majestic spectacle that included a glowing troika of horses made of light streaking through a snowbound sky, the multicolor onion domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral bobbing in the air; literary references to Gogol, Tolstoy and Nabokov; images of Stalinist skyscrapers; and performances by Russia’s storied ballerinas, musicians and singers…

There were salutes to Russian science and innovation, including nods to Mendeleev, who codified the periodic table of elements, and Igor Sikorsky, the inventor and aviator…

It also delved into Russian fairy tales with the story of the mythical city of Kitezh, submerged in a lake by its prince rather than surrendered to the Mongols,** leaving only the sound of the church bells tolling on the surface on summer nights.**…

No doubt, one of the most enduring images for the audience was that of the glowing white troika, the chariot drawn by three horses immortalized in Gogol’s novel “Dead Souls.”

nytimes.com/2014/02/08/sports/olympics/russia-opens-sochi-games-with-pageantry-and-pride.html?_r=0
 
Bruised_Reed said:
I think the little girl filled a couple of roles:
Youth, obviously, which also points toward the future. And since she went throughout the alphabetical (or whatever continuity as she appeared again in parts of history and Russian fairytales. Then she ascended step upwards, letting go of the red balloon symbolizing letting go of the past and moving toward a new future. That’s what I gleaned from commentary and how I interpreted it.
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Great interpretation!
 
Seamus_L said:
Something on the birth of Christianity in Russia, with an icon or two sure would have been nice. Instead we got Tatu. I defend Vladimir Putin on this forum alot, but I have to admit he dropped the ball on that one, big time.
Click to expand...
They a singers from a monastery, They had an representation of St Basil’s Cathedral, when they did the Cyrillic alphabet I immediately noticed what appeared to be an icon of an apostle. I think they did a decent job representing the importance of the Orthodox Church to Russia.
 
Well, that would have been quite a feat, if she has been dead for several years. Please excuse my American ignorance.

I don’t think the “Russian people” are the object of anyone’s “slaps”.

The leadership,yes. For several reasons, Russia’s stance on human rights, Richard Snowden, among other events.

I see no one denying that any country has a spotless past.

For some reason, I thought you were in London.Sorry for the mistake.

You seem to really want to argue and I don’t. So I hope you have a very nice weekend! Pax!
 
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