Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics!

[mary poppins]

I love, love, love watching the Olympics and am so excited they are starting tonight! Do you watch? What are your favorite events?

 

[distracts]

The only winter olympic sport I've ever had more than a passing interest in is figure skating, but since the last winter olympics I met and married a hockey-obsessed person and gained a ton of hockey knowledge, I'll definitely be watching a lot of hockey. SO I will have branched out from skating to... different skating.

I will also watch anything that involves fit men in skintight suits.

 

[recordaras]

I'm super excited about figure skating, and also ski jumping.
Oh, and totally agree with distracts on the fit men in spandex, lol.

 

[mary poppins]

I will also watch anything that involves fit men in skintight suits.

Speed skaters!!

 

[amc80]

I didn't realize it was on last night until I flipped the channels and saw figure skating. I know the opening ceremonies air tonight- did they just wait to air them on Friday to get more viewers? It's weird to be watching competition before the ceremonies.

 

[lovebug1031]

I didn't realize it was on last night until I flipped the channels and saw figure skating. I know the opening ceremonies air tonight- did they just wait to air them on Friday to get more viewers? It's weird to be watching competition before the ceremonies.

i actually think that's the norm with the olympics...but yes odd!

My favorite winter event? Curling!

Also, this is hilarious! http://www.popsugar.com/Escorts-Sochi-Opening-Ceremony-33937538#photo-33937539

 

[amc80]

i actually think that's the norm with the olympics...but yes odd! My favorite winter event? Curling! Also, this is hilarious! http://www.popsugar.com/Escorts-Sochi-Opening-Ceremony-33937538#photo-33937539

Oh I figure it was just the way it aired with the time difference, but maybe you're right.

I love curling! It is so addicting to watch.

Anyone catch the Canadian pair skate? That was amazing. So many unique moves, it was very fresh.

 

[Andelain]

Oops!

http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/sochi-opening-ceremonies-kick-off-with-olympic-ring-glitch-020714

 

[Deactivated member 42515]

I'm usually excited but with all the LGBT backlash, not so great. To make matters even worse, they're killing off thousands of stray dogs instead of building a shelter for them like they promised a year ago. They're not doing it humanely either. They are just going around beating them, stabbing them and poisoning them.

So, no. I won't be watching the Olympics this year. Very angry and disappointed.

 

[JewelFreak]

I will also watch anything that involves fit men in skintight suits.

Yep!

I love the skating -- and agree, amc, the Canadian pair was super. As was the Japanese man. Not so impressed w/Plushenko's performance despite Scott Hamilton's nearly melting on mic. "He changes the air in a room!" he says; oh Scotty, you're too smart for that baloney! Eeeuw.

The dog story is disgusting & makes me blind with fury. If I could, I'd return in kind any "favor" each person does each one, grrr. However, the athletes have nothing to do with it so I watch.

--- Laurie

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

So far so good!

cheers--Sharon

 

[kenny]

I'm usually excited but with all the LGBT backlash, not so great. To make matters even worse, they're killing off thousands of stray dogs instead of building a shelter for them like they promised a year ago. They're not doing it humanely either. They are just going around beating them, stabbing them and poisoning them.

So, no. I won't be watching the Olympics this year. Very angry and disappointed.

+1

 

[amc80]

I will also watch anything that involves fit men in skintight suits.

Yep!

I love the skating -- and agree, amc, the Canadian pair was super. As was the Japanese man. Not so impressed w/Plushenko's performance despite Scott Hamilton's nearly melting on mic. "He changes the air in a room!" he says; oh Scotty, you're too smart for that baloney! Eeeuw.

The dog story is disgusting & makes me blind with fury. If I could, I'd return in kind any "favor" each person does each one, grrr. However, the athletes have nothing to do with it so I watch.

--- Laurie

I agree. I want to support the athletes. Did anyone else notice how empty the stands were at the ice skating?

 

[recordaras]

I watched the opening ceremony on Russian television, and I'm very curious what those of you that will be watching it tonight will think. I though it was beautifully done, but then again I'm Russian, so I could recognize every cultural reference in there. I wonder what it will be like from a foreign perspective.

 

[zoebartlett]

I can't wait to watch! My favorites are skating (pairs and individual, but not ice dancing), skiing, and ski jumping. I'm sure I'll tune into other events too, if I have time. With so much happening in/around Sochi, I'll be interested to see the coverage of the city itself, in addition to the Olympic events.

 

[momhappy]

There is already a thread on dogs in Sochi. This thread seems more like it's about showing support for the Olympics. Just my .02 cents and certainly not meant to be controlling and/or offensive, so take it for what it's worth (which is not much ).
Anyway, yes! I will be watching too. I love the Olympics and my husband and I watch them together. I love figure skating, skiing, and snow boarding the most.

 

[mary poppins]

I watched last night. Since I started watching preliminary qualifiers on the slope early in the evening, I didn't realize until see the comments in this thread that the skating I saw later in the evening was the real deal. Prior to opening ceremony and, as someone else mentioned, many empty seats for skating threw me off.

I don't recall the games starting before opening ceremony before. Maybe this time it was to accommodate scheduling for the 14 new events this year. http://www.olympic.org/news/what-s-new-for-sochi/218742

I'm very interested in seeing Lolo Jones in a winter team sport rather than a summer individual sport. I hope she finally gets a medal, even it it's not on her own.

 

[JewelFreak]

The AP reports that attendance is extremely low, especially of foreigners. The reporter talked to somebody at the welcome booth who said she'd spoken only to 1 foreigner, all the rest were Russian. The article said trains to Sochi are only half full.

It may pick up a little as events get going, but from what we read about the hotels, there don't seem to be places to stay that would attract an int'l crowd. All the publicity about terrorism threats must have made a big impact too.

Putin has spent more on these Olympics than other countries on all past Olympics combined.

 

[AprilBaby]

Nope, not gonna watch any of it.

 

[mary poppins]

Here's an article explaining why the games began before the opening ceremony. http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/02/olympics-opening-ceremony-start-thursday/

 

[violet3]

Did anyone just see the ladies figure skating? The 15 year old from Russia BLEW. MY. MIND. Absolutely amazing! I wonder how she'll hold up against the former gold medalist from 2010 in the individual competition?

 

[VRBeauty]

I watched the opening ceremony on Russian television, and I'm very curious what those of you that will be watching it tonight will think. I though it was beautifully done, but then again I'm Russian, so I could recognize every cultural reference in there. I wonder what it will be like from a foreign perspective.

I enjoyed them - but then, I always love watching the opening ceremonies. I thought some of the imagery was spectacular and so well done. (And yes, I know the story told ignored or whitewashed a lot of recent history - but that's to be expected.)

 

[recordaras]

I enjoyed them - but then, I always love watching the opening ceremonies. I thought some of the imagery was spectacular and so well done. (And yes, I know the story told ignored or whitewashed a lot of recent history - but that's to be expected.)

I thought the 3D animation on the floor of the stadium was mind blowing - I had never seen anything like it before!

 

[mary poppins]

The biathlon is pretty interesting. I could do without the commentator yelling.

 

[JewelFreak]

OMG the Canadian pair today gave me the chills. What grace & skill! The footwork & choreography were superb & I couldn't stop oh-ing & ah-ing at them.

The Russian 15-yr-old, I agree, was great. That kid doesn't have any ligaments -- did you see how straight up she got her leg? More than once. Amazing!

 

[mary poppins]

OMG the Canadian pair today gave me the chills. What grace & skill! The footwork & choreography were superb & I couldn't stop oh-ing & ah-ing at them.

The Russian 15-yr-old, I agree, was great. That kid doesn't have any ligaments -- did you see how straight up she got her leg? More than once. Amazing!

Straight line from her foot on the ice to the foot in the air, and she held the position for quite a while. Incredible!

I'm enjoying the commentary by and Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir. They know how to be quiet, too. Much better than Scott Hamilton's constant talking and screaming.

 

[maple2012]

Watching now with a glass of wine! Figure skating... amazing. That russian girl? OMG. She was so great! I also love slopestyle men's snowboard.

 

[brownbear]

Can I join in on the love? Having been the previous host city (Vancouver), I'm even more into the Olympics this time. Loved the Canadian dufour-lapointe sisters winning gold and silver in moguls. I miss the energy and excitement from 2010... I hope it feels like a party every day on the streets of Sochi. I'm wearing my red mittens and Canada toque for the next week!

 

[canuk-gal]

Can I join in on the love? Having been the previous host city (Vancouver), I'm even more into the Olympics this time. Loved the Canadian dufour-lapointe sisters winning gold and silver in moguls. I miss the energy and excitement from 2010... I hope it feels like a party every day on the streets of Sochi. I'm wearing my red mittens and Canada toque for the next week!

HI:

Yes from another former Winter Olympic city--Calgary. What exciting times!

Skiing and speed skating are my fav's. At one time I could ski moguls, so I am glued to that event. And "our" Olympic oval is a beautiful venue where world class athletes train--not uncommon to see a few Olympians around!

cheers--Sharon

 

[ame]

I'm usually excited but with all the LGBT backlash, not so great. To make matters even worse, they're killing off thousands of stray dogs instead of building a shelter for them like they promised a year ago. They're not doing it humanely either. They are just going around beating them, stabbing them and poisoning them.

So, no. I won't be watching the Olympics this year. Very angry and disappointed.

Same. I refuse to give that disaster a single second of ratings. It is a shame in the case of the athletes losing the attention THEY deserve, but Putin did his country a horrible disservice, as usual, while spending a ridiculous amount of money at the same time.

However, I rarely watch ANY Olympics regardless, in part bec I think the coverage is HORRENDOUSLY done in the US. The only sport I ever really give a crap about in any Olympics is women's gymnastics, but even then, limited concern as a whole, and the politics usually turn me off.