1. Sochi, the host city itself
Circassian people suffered genocide at the hands of the Russian Empire in 1864 in Sochi, making it of great significance to the Circassian people. The Sochi Games mark the 150th anniversary of a 101 year bloody Russian-Caucasus war leading to the defeat of Circassians. The war's last battles took place at Sochi. This history begins the controversy for the games.
2. The expenditure, grandiose and the corruption that follows
The games were estimated to cost $12bn in 2007 when bids were being placed. However, today the cost of the games has been estimated at $51bn. The lavish expenditure of the Russians over the winter Olympics makes it the most expensive in history. And news of corruption at the and scams haven't helped Russia with their case.
3. The seaside resort
The games are being held at a subtropical seaside resort. An Olympic park has been constructed and the indoor games are a walking distance. A new railway has been lavishly constructed for the snow events that will take place in the Caucasus Mountains. With the recent snowing, the enormous provision of artificial snow will no longer be needed.
4. Militant movements in the mountains
In last October and December, the city of Volgograd, just north of Caucasus Mountains suffered from a suicide bomber followed by other bombings killing many people. With the snow events being held in the Caucasus Mountains there is a growing fear of security risk and further attacks. Sochi itself suffers from the threat of an imminent attack.
5. LGBT laws
If geographical constraints were not controversy enough, the new LGBT legislation makes everything even more internationally controversial. The legislation makes non-traditional sexual arrangements an offence punishable with fines and imprisonment in Russia. This has led to many international companies withdrawing their sponsorship for the Sochi Games.
6. Shoddy venue preparations
Despite the lavish expenditure, the construction for the Olympics is shoddy with news of unfinished venues. Adding to the controversy is the news of spy cameras in the guest's shows and so on so forth.
7. Irina Rodnina
The three time Olympic gold medal winner and close pal of the Russian President Vladimir Putin posted a racist photo of President Obama and his wife Michelle on twitter in September. The photo showed President Obama with his mouth full and his wife staring at a banana held up by a white hand. The photo caused quite an uproar.
8. The fifth ring
To top everything, the official opening ceremony of the Sochi Games only made matters worse still. A major glitch at the kick-off ceremony resulted in which one of the five giant snowflakes failed to open up into an Olympic ring.
So will the controversies stop and will we witness a peaceful show of Olympic Games at Sochi? Controversies or not, the games will be magnificent with the performances and Olympians themselves. So let's wait and watch and let the best man or woman win!
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