Russian athletes—figure skater Irina Rodnina and hockey player Vladislav Tretiak—lit the Olympic cauldron at the historic 8:14 p.m. start time in Sochi, Russia to officially start the 22nd Winter Olympic Games.
On the evening of Friday, February 7, Russia welcomed athletes from all around the world and prepared all for 15 sporting competition events and finals with a brilliant display in the opening ceremonies.
The ceremonies, held at Sochi’s Fisht Olympic Stadium, did an exceptional job of reintroducing Russia’s participation in the Olympic hosting since the breakup of the USSR in 1951. The Games began on a strong note, also due to the fact that Sochi’s opening ceremonies are said to have been the most expensive in the history of the Olympics.
The majestic display of Russian history, with scenes based on literary authors, opera singing and much more, brought Russia into a new light in the eyes of all who were glued to their television screens.
The entire stadium was lit up with Russia’s new and improved power infrastructure, an addition which began construction in 2009 and was designed with the Games in mind.
While Russia proved itself in its elaborate opening ceremonies, the underlying issue about including gays in the Olympics was still fully existent.
While Russian officials have stressed that gays will not be discriminated at the Games, evidence at the events says something different. According to an article from The Washington Post, “the Olympic charter prohibits it, and even if it didn’t, the Russian constitution does.”
The Olympics are a universal occasion in which athletes from all around the world convene to compete for medals and awards in various sporting events. Despite this fact, Russian officials and authorities are against giving attention to gays and their participation in the Games. Individuals who support gay presence in the Olympics are discouraged from publicly proclaiming their opinions and positions on these issues surrounding LGBT rights.
According to The Washington Post, “gays say they are more vulnerable than ever, feeling the wrath of a repressive new law. It’s getting worse, despite the attention the Olympics has brought.”
Sites and groups where gays can come together and share their experiences and feelings are now being prohibited by Russian authorities, according to The Washington Post.
Competitions started on Thursday, February 6 with figure skating, freestyle skiing, and snowboarding. The sports with the most competition events were ice hockey and curling, while alpine skiing and speed skating had many final events.
Germany ranks first in total medals won—gold, silver, and bronze—with eight gold medals, followed by Russia in second, the Netherlands in third, and the United States in fourth.
The closing ceremonies are this Sunday, February 23.