The Winter Olympics 2014 in Sochi, RUS

[Brahmsian]

Yes.

A: USA, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia
B: Finland, Canada, Austria, Norway
C: Sweden, Czech RP, Latvia, Switzerland

Ah, thanks Karlo! 

[North Star]

Opening ceremony starts in a few hours..

"It's not corruption I'm worried about," Elena tells me. "I'm more concerned with how our athletes are going to do. I'm so used to hearing about money being stolen. It's just not news."
President Putin knows that his Olympics have sparked controversy abroad. He is well aware that many Western leaders will not be attending.
But he knows, too, that most Russians will be glued to their TV sets - more concerned with how many medals their country will win, not how much money it cost to put on the show.

[kishnevi]

It seems that two current players from my local hockey team (Florida Panthers) will be in the Olympics--one for Finland and one for Slovakia--and one ex member of the team will be playing for Finland.

Yes, we really do have an NHL team in South Florida (this may sound strange to those outside North America).  And if Beckham gets his way, we will finally have a real soccer team here too.

[The Six]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDmfBh5FTMw

[North Star]

It seems that two current players from my local hockey team (Florida Panthers) will be in the Olympics--one for Finland and one for Slovakia--and one ex member of the team will be playing for Finland.

Yes, we really do have an NHL team in South Florida (this may sound strange to those outside North America).  And if Beckham gets his way, we will finally have a real soccer team here too.

And what's even stranger, I own one of these (it's a couple of decades old)
Yeah, Alexander Barkov, who is probably the youngest hockey player in the Olympics (born in 1995)

[Mirror Image]

I've always been quite ambivalent towards the Olympics in general and I don't see my attitude changing in regards to Sochi 2014. I think the only time I watched any of the Olympics with any frequency was back in 1996 when the Summer Games were held in Atlanta.

[Sef]

Just watching the opening ceremony on NBC. How many composers can you name? Didn't hear any Shostakovich. Any reason for that? Got Stravinski, Borodin, Tchaikovsky, Schnitke,  khachaturian. It could have been edited of course!

[Gurn Blanston]

Just watching the opening ceremony on NBC. How many composers can you name? Didn't hear any Shostakovich. Any reason for that? Got Stravinski, Borodin, Tchaikovsky, Schnitke,  khachaturian. It could have been edited of course!

Yes, great music. I particularly enjoyed the Swan Lake bit at the end; the lights on the dancers were quite riveting.

[Sef]

Yes, great music. I particularly enjoyed the Swan Lake bit at the end; the lights on the dancers were quite riveting.

I enjoyed it immensely. I found the NBC commentry over the Russian history segment interesting!

[Mirror Image]

Just watching the opening ceremony on NBC. How many composers can you name? Didn't hear any Shostakovich. Any reason for that? Got Stravinski, Borodin, Tchaikovsky, Schnitke,  khachaturian. It could have been edited of course!

They played Schnittke?!?!? That's great! I wonder what work they played? I'm surprised they didn't play any Shostakovich or Prokofiev, though.

[Sef]

They played Schnittke?!?!? That's great! I wonder what work they played? I'm surprised they didn't play any Shostakovich or Prokofiev, though.

Concerto Grosso No. 1.

[Sef]

I would have put money on the Olympic flame being lit to the conclusion of Shostakovich symphony No. 5!! Too obvious perhaps.

[Mirror Image]

Concerto Grosso No. 1.

Cool!

[lescamil]

I will only be watching for the men's hockey. I'm a huge fan of NHL hockey and don't see much reason to watch the other sports, really. I'm really excited to see how USA, Canada, Sweden, and Russia will do. I'm picking three of those 4 teams to medal (Canada for sure).

[North Star]

I will only be watching for the men's hockey. I'm a huge fan of NHL hockey and don't see much reason to watch the other sports, really. I'm really excited to see how USA, Canada, Sweden, and Russia will do. I'm picking three of those 4 teams to medal (Canada for sure).

I sure hope two of those win some medals...

Just watching the opening ceremony on NBC. How many composers can you name? Didn't hear any Shostakovich. Any reason for that? Got Stravinski, Borodin, Tchaikovsky, Schnitke,  khachaturian. It could have been edited of course!

Damn, I wish I had watched it.

[mc ukrneal]

Isn't is strange - the only sport I probably won't watch is hockey! I dont mind the sport, it's just the popular team sports at the Olympics (Soccer, hockey, baseball when they had it, and basketball) don't really interest me. I'd rather watch curling.

[Gurn Blanston]

I enjoyed it immensely. I found the NBC commentry over the Russian history segment interesting!

Yes, and seriously, how often does that happen?? 

[Sef]

Yes, and seriously, how often does that happen?? 

UK's Independent paper said "Alright, so an LED-lit Lenin didn't summarily execute the last Tsar and his family. There were no Solzhenitsyn on stilts, no farms being collectivised," he writes. "But Russia is no more guilty than anyone else of airbrushing out the less savoury moments in its history when in the world's spotlight." The NBC commentary made sure that those "gaps" weren't forgotten.

[The new erato]

2 Gold Medals, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze on the first day of the games. I'm flying the flag.

[Sef]

2 Gold Medals, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze on the first day of the games. I'm flying the flag.

Congratulations! I'm waiting for the highlights this evening. Rugby and Football until then!