Behind the Scenes at Sochi

karrie

OogedyBoogedy
Jan 6, 2007
27,780
285
83
bliss
The Tweets have started rolling in, and the world is watching with anticipation, to see just how badly the Sochi Olympics run.

No, this thread is not for competition results, this is for the behind the scenes issues.

http://cheezburger.com/179717
 

darkbeaver

the universe is electric
Jan 26, 2006
41,035
201
63
RR1 Distopia 666 Discordia
Serves them right for not hiring muslim terrorists for security.

Muslims terrorists were invented by NATO, they're way more dependable if you own them, schedualing and all that, easier than waiting for the wild ones to show up in the right place. More cost effective, efficiency improves, the jobs get done on time.
 

Locutus

Adorable Deplorable
Jun 18, 2007
32,230
45
48
65
Cute. I wonder how many Russian hackers are now following this thread? I also wonder how many medals Canadians will bring home?


 

tay

Hall of Fame Member
May 20, 2012
11,548
0
36
Russia won the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, beating out Austria and South Korea, with the help of a mysterious Russian businessman, Gafur Rakhimov, who U.S. authorities describe as a top organized crime boss and heroin kingpin currently under criminal indictment in Uzbekistan.


"He is one of the four or five most important people in the heroin trade in the world," Craig Murray, a former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, told ABC News for a report to be broadcast tonight on "World News With Diane Sawyer".


"He's absolutely a very major and dangerous gangster," Murray said.


Yet, after the International Olympic Committee voted in 2007 to award the games to Sochi, the head of the Russian Olympic Committee publicly thanked Rakhimov for his "singled minded work" in getting the votes of some Asian countries, "without which… it would have been hard for Sochi to count on the victory."


Rakhimov confirmed to ABC News, through a translator, that he played a role in helping Russia win votes through his contacts in Central Asian Olympic circles.


"He convinced them because of his good relations with these people. He has great influence," the translator, who was also a spokesman for Rakhimov, said during a phone interview from Dubai where Rakhimov moved after being indicted in Uzbekistan.


Rakhimov has long been connected by law enforcement authorities to heroin trafficking.


He was banned from attending the Olympic games in Australia in 2000 because of his alleged criminal ties.


In 2012, U.S. Treasury officials sought to freeze Rakhimov's bank accounts around the world, describing him in public documents as a "key member" of a huge Russian-Asian criminal syndicate called the Brothers' Circle.


"He has operated major international drug syndicates involving the trafficking of heroin," the Treasury statement said.


Former ambassador Murray said the heroin from Rakhimov's network moves through Central Asia to St. Petersburg, Russia and then on to Europe and the United Kingdom.


Despite the criminal allegations and indictment, Rakhimov continues to serve as a vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia, a group of nations that are members of the International Olympic Committee.
Repeated requests for comment to the council were not answered.


Russian investigative journalist Sergei Kanev said Rakhimov has close ties with the mafia family in Sochi and with top officials in the Kremlin.


"There was obviously some sort of agreement between the Kremlin and the 'thieves-in-law," referring the common name use to describe Russian mobsters.


Kanev said members of Rakhimov's inner circle have boasted that "bags of cash" were used to secure the Olympic votes.


Rakhimov, through his translator, denied paying bribes. "It was not necessary," said the translator.


A spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin wouldn't comment on Rakhimov.




more




Alleged Heroin Kingpin Helped Russia Win Olympics for Sochi - ABC News






A Russian businessmen said he is a "marked man" after publicly alleging officials in the office of President Vladimir Putin demanded payoffs in exchange for Olympic construction contracts in Sochi.


"You will be drowned in blood," Valery Morozov said he was told after fleeing Russia for Great Britain in the wake of his allegations of rampant corruption surrounding the Olympics.




more


Threats to Sochi Olympics Whistleblower: 'You Will Be Drowned in Blood!' - ABC News
 

coldstream

on dbl secret probation
Oct 19, 2005
5,160
27
48
Chillliwack, BC
On a positive note.. the Opening Ceremonies.. and i've only seen the Russian Anthem and Parade of Mations so far.. seemed to go off well, in the very impressive Fisht Olympic Stadium.
$50 Billion worth i'm not sure.. but the venues i've seen look first class.

The Canadian Parade Gear actually looks pretty good.. with the traditional Hudson Bay Wool Duffle Coat in a deep crimson.. much better than the stuff Roots used to put out.

I just wish Peter Mansbridge would get off his soapbox about homosexual rights, this is a sports not a political event.. it'd make the spectacle more enjoyable.
 
Last edited:

Blackleaf

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 9, 2004
48,340
1,650
113
It may be well run, but it won't be as well run as the London Proper Olympics.

The BBC, predictably, were salivating at the Communist section of the Sochi opening ceremony, in the little I've seen of it.
 

damngrumpy

Executive Branch Member
Mar 16, 2005
9,949
21
38
kelowna bc
It could be the expectations of a five star hotel here in the west are far different
from those in Eastern Europe. Imagine a fifteen hundred mile defense perimeter
around the place. Lots of room for trouble makers to slip through. You would
think they would have made the ring a little tighter.
We need a permanent site on each continent and everyone pays stop this madness
and infusion of cash no one has
 

Mowich

Hall of Fame Member
Dec 25, 2005
16,649
998
113
74
Eagle Creek
On a positive note.. the Opening Ceremonies.. and i've only seen the Russian Anthem and Parade of Mations so far.. seemed to go off well, in the very impressive Fisht Olympic Stadium.
$50 Billion worth i'm not sure.. but the venues i've seen look first class.

The Canadian Parade Gear actually looks pretty good.. with the traditional Hudson Bay Wool Duffle Coat in a deep crimson.. much better than the stuff Roots used to put out.

I just wish Peter Mansbridge would get off his soapbox about homosexual rights, this is a sports not a political event.. it'd make the spectacle more enjoyable.

I enjoyed the opening ceremonies especially all that neat stuff they did with lasers - the Troika bit was really cool. Nice to see Zedeno carrying the flag for Russia. Our Canadian folks looked way cool in their gear and Hayley Wickenheiser gave a great interview during the ceremonies. Hope all goes well for the games and the athletes and may the best people/teams win.
 

lone wolf

Grossly Underrated
Nov 25, 2006
32,493
210
63
In the bush near Sudbury
Behind the scenes, I can't help but feel for the people who have to put their lives on hold and all the strays bound for some kind of farm. If you need window dressing that badly, the windows should be installed elsewhere.

Go Team Canada!
 

Toro

Senate Member
Russia won the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, beating out Austria and South Korea, with the help of a mysterious Russian businessman, Gafur Rakhimov, who U.S. authorities describe as a top organized crime boss and heroin kingpin currently under criminal indictment in Uzbekistan.


"He is one of the four or five most important people in the heroin trade in the world," Craig Murray, a former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, told ABC News for a report to be broadcast tonight on "World News With Diane Sawyer".


"He's absolutely a very major and dangerous gangster," Murray said.


Yet, after the International Olympic Committee voted in 2007 to award the games to Sochi, the head of the Russian Olympic Committee publicly thanked Rakhimov for his "singled minded work" in getting the votes of some Asian countries, "without which… it would have been hard for Sochi to count on the victory."


Rakhimov confirmed to ABC News, through a translator, that he played a role in helping Russia win votes through his contacts in Central Asian Olympic circles.


"He convinced them because of his good relations with these people. He has great influence," the translator, who was also a spokesman for Rakhimov, said during a phone interview from Dubai where Rakhimov moved after being indicted in Uzbekistan.


Rakhimov has long been connected by law enforcement authorities to heroin trafficking.


He was banned from attending the Olympic games in Australia in 2000 because of his alleged criminal ties.


In 2012, U.S. Treasury officials sought to freeze Rakhimov's bank accounts around the world, describing him in public documents as a "key member" of a huge Russian-Asian criminal syndicate called the Brothers' Circle.


"He has operated major international drug syndicates involving the trafficking of heroin," the Treasury statement said.


Former ambassador Murray said the heroin from Rakhimov's network moves through Central Asia to St. Petersburg, Russia and then on to Europe and the United Kingdom.


Despite the criminal allegations and indictment, Rakhimov continues to serve as a vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia, a group of nations that are members of the International Olympic Committee.
Repeated requests for comment to the council were not answered.


Russian investigative journalist Sergei Kanev said Rakhimov has close ties with the mafia family in Sochi and with top officials in the Kremlin.


"There was obviously some sort of agreement between the Kremlin and the 'thieves-in-law," referring the common name use to describe Russian mobsters.


Kanev said members of Rakhimov's inner circle have boasted that "bags of cash" were used to secure the Olympic votes.


Rakhimov, through his translator, denied paying bribes. "It was not necessary," said the translator.


A spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin wouldn't comment on Rakhimov.




more




Alleged Heroin Kingpin Helped Russia Win Olympics for Sochi - ABC News






A Russian businessmen said he is a "marked man" after publicly alleging officials in the office of President Vladimir Putin demanded payoffs in exchange for Olympic construction contracts in Sochi.


"You will be drowned in blood," Valery Morozov said he was told after fleeing Russia for Great Britain in the wake of his allegations of rampant corruption surrounding the Olympics.




more


Threats to Sochi Olympics Whistleblower: 'You Will Be Drowned in Blood!' - ABC News

Heroin kingpins were invented by left wing activists, they're way more dependable if you own them, schedualing and all that, easier than waiting for the wild ones to show up in the right place. More cost effective, efficiency improves, the jobs get done on time.