I’m not going to watch it on TV, why the hell would I go there?
Put me down for negative.
I don’t like being cold, I don’t like crowds, especially if they are rowdy, I can watch it at home in the warm snuggled up on my sofa.
I don’t like the idea of the whole Putin - Gay thing, I don’t like the threat of terrorism, being in a wheelchair makes me pretty dependent on others for safety, I can’t just get up and run if something goes all wahooni shaped fast. I really don’t trust the level of random medical care in Russia. I have a coupel serious food allergies that can kill me, or make me seriously ill, and I really don’t want to try to depend on the kindness of strangers to make sure I can eat something, one mistake and I am dead.
I will say that while there is a lot of corruption in Russia, I do know a number of Russians that I have gamed with and the vast majority of people are nice - it is the occasional one that you will run into that is officious and can make life nasty at whim. Them, I don’t trust.
One of my ex employees is competing there, I’d go there in a heartbeat. I was prepared to go to Whistler, but this was a little more difficult.
Well, I was told from an early age that dropping me on The Soviet Union would be considered an act of war.
…so, that’d be a ‘no’.
No deal. The Games make things a crazy mess even in the best organized places. I’m sure everyone’s crossing their fingers that things work out, I hope it goes on well.
I’ll visit Russia some day, but most likely at some time when there’s no such extraordinary “marquee” event going on to multiply the hassle factor.
I have a friend competing and his wife and kids are staying home. This is the first Olympics they’ve missed since he started competing and it’s going to be his last but they just can’t justify the risks and hassles and costs. Kind of sad really and making them wish that he had retired after Vancouver but he was unhappy with his performance there and decided to try for 4 more years.
Without a second thought, I’d go. I LOVE the Winter Olympics, and I’ve always wanted to visit that part of the world (the Black Sea/Caucusus). Not Russia itself, as I’ve already been there several times. I have friends that will be working out there (as photographers) and I’d live to be in their place. I’d work for free to be there and experience it.
Mind sharing what event he competes in?
Absolutely.
I’d attend hockey and figure skating. I’d be happy to go.
Who is it?
Olympic hockey is pretty much the only sporting event (out of all sporting events, not just the Olympics) that I’m ever at least somewhat interested in watching. Even then my level of interest would not motivate me to travel to and from Sochi, even for free.
I have no interest in any of the sporting events, I hate cold, I’ve never heard anything that made me want to visit Russia, and their attitude towards gays girds my grid. So no.
If that was my criteria for not visiting places I’d never step out my front door.
Well, Russia can provide pretty good security if it really wants to, so if Putin says “no terrorism” I wouldn’t fear that so much. It would be interesting to see what the security was really like, and I wouldn’t be surprised if no terrorism occurs, or if it’s attempted it gets foiled quickly. This is a huge national pride thing for them, and I think Putin went so far as to say “gays should feel welcome.” Lol, I know. Baby steps.
My answer is perhaps beside the point of the question: but – all sports, of any and every kind, bore me to tears. I wouldn’t go to any sort of Olympics: not if they were happening in what I regarded as the nicest place in the world, and not if I were paid to go.
(d) you won’t be welcome anyway. Unfortunately. Wait, you saw Terry call on his arse? Lucky woman
I would go happily.
Unfortunately I was with chelsea supporters. And it was pissing down with rain. And they escorted us to the tube station with tanks. Nice.
If there’s terrorism threats, I’d be more concerned by the Russian military over-reaction than the slim chance of being caught in a bomb, having seen their response to having a few football fans in town.
He did say that, followed by ‘just don’t talk to children please’. Lovely.
And as I said in the previous post, I’ve no doubt the Russian military will be all over any terrorism threats, but having seen them up close, I can’t imagine it’s exactly going to enhance the visitor experience.
I would love to see them, but I’d be too scared to go. I’m a big chicken.
No, but concerns about terrorism are the least of it.