# Would you visit the Sochi olympics? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 20, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282 "2014-01-20T17:00:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/81 "2014-01-24T17:05:07Z")
Despite the news, I think the risk of being involved in a terrorist attack is pretty low - both because the likelihood of an attack is low, and the fact that any attack that does happen is likely to involve a very small percentage of the people attending the games. I wonder how many people there will be killed in traffic accidents during the same time period. Going to football games stopped being fun for me when I wasn’t in the marching band anymore. The Olympics would be the same sort of thing, so despite the low risk of terrorism to the individual, I’d rather stay at home and watch it on a big-ass TV. The network cameras, equipped with amazing zoom lenses and operated by professionals, get far better views than I ever would when seated in the bleachers or standing behind a snow fence, and I can skip the boring parts as I see fit. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/82 "2014-01-24T17:16:51Z")
I didn’t even go to the London games and my office is less than a mile from the Olympic stadium. I can see that stupid Orbit thing looking out my window right now. So no, I probably wouldn’t go to the Olympics even if it were free. I’m not overly worried about terrorists but I do have a deep dislike of the current Russian government so that’s even less reason to go. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/83 "2014-01-24T17:25:31Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > So, let’s say that you have been offered an all-expensed-paid trip to the 2014 Winter Olympics. I’d finagle some way to sell it to somebody who gives a damn about sports, doesn’t have anything better to do, and doesn’t consider foreign travel to be an adventure (i.e. a nasty unpleasant thing that makes you late for dinner). ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/84 "2014-02-06T17:23:34Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Hell, yeah I would go. Why not? Well, I got into town and my computer was hacked, my cell phone no longer turns on, my hotel room has two toilets but no shower, and I spent the last two hours consoling my daughter who thought she saw “those poor doggies” get shot. Can I go home now? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/85 "2014-02-06T18:18:01Z")
I don’t remember where I found this, but the Sochi Twitter feeds are hilarious. I’ll be watching those, and that’s as close as I get. [Staying in Sochi is a Hilarious Adventure.](http://deadspin.com/staying-in-sochi-is-a-hilarious-adventure-1515722114) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/86 "2014-02-06T18:33:43Z")
I’ve gotten free tickets to a sub-par night of stand-up comedy; I’ve gotten free tickets to a lousy play put on by the drama department at a community college; I’d say those were worth the price. But the _Winter_ Olympics? You’re gonna have to pay me. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/87 "2014-02-06T20:39:43Z")
The Wall Street Journal says … oh hell, just see for yourself: > [@](#): > > Dmitry Kozak, the deputy prime minister responsible for the Olympic preparations, seemed to reflect the view held among many Russian officials that some Western visitors are deliberately trying to sabotage Sochi’s big debut out of bias against Russia. “ **We have surveillance video** from the hotels that shows people turn on the shower, direct the nozzle at the wall and then leave the room for the whole day,” he said. An aide then pulled a reporter away before Mr. Kozak could be questioned further on surveillance in hotel rooms. “We’re doing a tour of the media center,” the aide said. The article goes on to say that people later contacted the reporters and reassured them that there was no surveillance in the bathrooms. We’ll all draw our own conclusions. [http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304680904579366712107461956](http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304680904579366712107461956) I have no idea. I’m just posting for the lulz. Also, there’s the whole [Cake in Ass](http://deadspin.com/all-the-sochi-food-is-in-the-ass-1517381077)thing, which is stupid of course, but so unfortunate. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/88 "2014-02-06T20:52:45Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > The article goes on to say that people later contacted the reporters and reassured them that there was no surveillance in the bathrooms. We’ll all draw our own conclusions. > [http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304680904579366712107461956](http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304680904579366712107461956). The reassurance was somewhat undercut by the fact that it was broadcast directly from the shower head. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/89 "2014-02-06T20:54:25Z")
I’d like to visit Russia some day. Heck, I’d like to visit everywhere. But I’m not interested in live anything sporting events. Crowded, uncomfortable and you get a better view on TV anyway. I don’t see the point. And the whole thing sounds like a clusterfuck. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/90 "2014-02-07T00:26:20Z")
Reading about the conditions there, I don’t think I’d want to go after all. Too bad, I’d love to see the Winter Olympics in person. Seriously, why did they choose Sochi? Why not say, St. Petersburg? (I know Moscow has already held them once) ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/91 "2014-02-07T11:57:23Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Reading about the conditions there, I don’t think I’d want to go after all. Too bad, I’d love to see the Winter Olympics in person. Seriously, why did they choose Sochi? Why not say, **St. Petersburg?** (I know **Moscow** has already held them once) Not doubting you – and my knowledge about, and interest in, this stuff is zero – but aren’t mountains necessary, for some kinds of winter sports? (ISTR that there are no mountains near St. P. and Moscow.) ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/92 "2014-02-07T13:18:27Z")
Don’t like crowds. Don’t really like Winter. Don’t like sports. If I could VIP into an indoor Winter Olympics event - ala the Royal Family in London last year, where I wouldn’t be worried about crowds - I’d do it for the experience. But standing outside in the cold in a crowd watching the luge isn’t my idea of a good time even if I get to go back to a hotel where hot water is guarenteed. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/93 "2014-02-07T13:25:28Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Don’t like crowds. Don’t really like Winter. Don’t like sports. But you’ll miss out on the experiences of a lifetime. The accomodations sound wonderful. One of my [favorites](http://www.statesman.com/news/news/journalists-sochi-tweet-funny-and-gross-hotel-expe/ndDWz/): "My hotel has no water. If restored, the front desk says, “do not use on your face because it contains something very dangerous.” See, they’re always looking out for the guests. ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/94 "2014-02-07T15:18:02Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > I wouldn’t attend any Olympics, even if it were in my home state. Anything I want to see, I can see on TV and fast forward through anything I don’t want to see. This. And the fact that housing conditions are so sub-standard, there’s a big dust-up on Twitter about it. [http://www.theindychannel.com/news/u-s-world/sochi-problems-handle-snarkily-tweets-failures-of-2014-winter-olympics](http://www.theindychannel.com/news/u-s-world/sochi-problems-handle-snarkily-tweets-failures-of-2014-winter-olympics) ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/95 "2014-02-07T15:51:53Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > But you’ll miss out on the experiences of a lifetime. There are lots of experiences of a lifetime I can take a pass on. I wouldn’t take a free trip up Mount Everest either. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/96 "2014-02-08T02:57:22Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Reading about the conditions there, I don’t think I’d want to go after all. Too bad, I’d love to see the Winter Olympics in person. Seriously, why did they choose Sochi? Why not say, St. Petersburg? (I know Moscow has already held them once) Moscow held the Summer Olympics only, go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/97 "2014-02-08T03:11:01Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Moscow held the Summer Olympics only, go figure. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/98 "2014-02-08T03:25:02Z")
I read yesterday in the mad rush to get the important things finished, the journalists’ Mountain Resort or whatever it is, was a lower priority. And really, are these quickly erected McHotels going to see any use after the game? Journalists whining about their accommodations not being plush enough kind of makes me a little happy. Not that things don’t suck in other ways. Teh gays, the dogs, the captured Orcas being held in a little concrete pool somewhere and then the authorities deciding to not even display them, etc. Speaking of gays, everyone is talking about the German team’s rainbow uniforms. Really? Not much of a rainbow, but if that’s how the world wants to take it and Germany is cool with it, I don’t mind. They should have gone with purple pants and red caps. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/99 "2014-02-09T15:13:45Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I read yesterday in the mad rush to get the important things finished, the journalists’ Mountain Resort or whatever it is, was a lower priority. And really, are these quickly erected McHotels going to see any use after the game? Journalists whining about their accommodations not being plush enough kind of makes me a little happy. There’s “not plush enough” and then there’s “the water in the shower, when it eventually works, will dissolve your face”. I think the latter deserves a little “whining”. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2014, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282/100 "2014-02-15T18:48:28Z")
Former employee did very well, should’ve went, damnit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-visit-the-sochi-olympics/679282.md?page=6)