Sochi Paper

Junior DeSouza

Sochi Olympics Paper

            The winter Olympics this year were held in Sochi Russia.  This was at first a very controversial place to hold the Olympics due to the speculations that the rest of the world had concerning the Russian government and diplomacy.  On the weeks leading up to the games, many people in Western countries such as the US greatly feared the possibility of a terrorist attack on the games due to Russia’s lack of intelligence sharing with the rest of the world.  Some of the athletes even advised some of their family and friends to rather stay back and watch the games in the US as opposed to coming to Russia and potentially putting their lives in danger.  Another element that added to the Western questioning of the safety of the event was that just a month prior to when athletes and competitors were scheduled to arrive in Sochi that there was a terrorist attack not too far from Sochi in which 34 people were killed by suicide bombers.

            In the end, the Sochi Olympics were conducted without the threat of any such terrorist attacks that could potentially harm the athletes, spectators, or families viewing the games.  This was able to happen due to the fact that the guards wee very well equipped with firearms in case something were to happen, there were metal detectors at every possible entrance, and that there were strict regulations on giving out visitor passes for people to enter the games.  Even with this strict code on getting into the games, personnel responsible for keeping a secure and strict presence were able to make a comfortable and joyful atmosphere for the viewers of the games.  All in all, Sochi was able to provide a safe atmosphere for the games, which came as a nice surprise foer all of the Western viewers of the games.