[tiffy trying] to get in on the Sochi Olympics action

My interest in the Olympics (in general) has always been as a casual spectator. I don't stay up to catch certain events, and I cheer for the ones whose stories (if I've looked them up) happen to be compelling to me in some way. While some people cheer for the athlete because of that person's skills, I've always been more attached to the person's back story. Typically, the more dramatic the story, the more likely I'll root for him/her.

So, it's no surprise that I've suddenly found myself utterly excited for the Sochi Olympics. Prior to the international journalists landing in Sochi, the only news I'd heard regarding the event had more to do with politics rather than sports. Then, the international journalists landed and started sharing their hilarious experiences at Sochi, and my indifference over the whole thing turned first into amusement then into full blown interest.

As you can see from some of these links, Sochi (the location, not the event) is having a bit of a PR problem. The Russian government, understandably, is pretty embarrassed about the whole thing and has tried to make it seem like it's not that bad, but it has found itself making things worse (surveillance cameras in bathrooms?!). Most of these stories sound pretty horrific, and part of me feels like they sound too loony to be true! However, just as some bad movies are "so bad they're good," so too are the events surrounding the Sochi Olympics. 

On the February 7 issue of TheSkimm, the email newsletter published this paragraph: 

"CONFESSION. I’M NOT THAT EXCITED. You’re not alone. This year’s Games are bringing together a lot of athletes whom you’ve never heard of. The lack of star power is probably not making TV execs happy either. But even if you don’t care, you’re going to hear about it."

As much as Sochi feels bad about the terrible things being reported by journalists around the world regarding the city's unpreparedness (and frankly, I would too if people called me a mess!), I think that they should actually try to just own it, try to poke fun at themselves. All of this coverage surrounding #SochiProblems has actually managed to get some members of a fairly disinterested and apathetic audience interested in the Olympics and in Sochi/Russia itself. While the buzz may not always feature glowing endorsements of the city or the country, it will at least ensure that some people will stay curious enough to check in and read up on the events and hopefully cheer for an athlete (or journalist) or two.  

[ Personally, I'm rooting for this team! ]

<3,

Tiffy