The Winter Olympics in Sochi are now officially open.
Over the next 16 days, around 3,000 athletes will be competing for 98 medals.
It is the most expensive Olympic Games in history, with the total cost expected to be more than 37 billion euros.
Russian
organisers say a record number of world leaders are attending – triple
the amount that attended the 2010 Vancouver Games.
While the
build-up to the event has been overshadowed by controversy over terror
threats, gay rights and unfinished hotels, organisers hope the focus
can now be on the sport.
As the Games were officially declared open at a glittering ceremony, we tested the temperature on the ground with our correspondent Denis Loctier.
Andrei Belkevich, euronews:
“We
have all followed the preparations for these Olympics. Record amounts
have been spent. But what about the results of these great efforts? Can
you feel the festive atmosphere in Sochi? What can we see in these
Olympics that we haven’t seen before?”
Andrei Belkevich, euronews:
“We have all followed the
preparations for these Olympics. Record amounts have been spent. But
what about the results of these great efforts? Can you feel the festive
atmosphere in Sochi? What can we see in these Olympics that we haven’t
seen before?”
Denis Loctier, euronews correspondent:
“There
is a festive atmosphere everywhere in this big, sprawling city. Sochi
is stretched along the coastline of the Black Sea. It’s actually a few
neighbourhoods clustered together and the sporting sites are rather
compactly gathered in the Olympic Park and mountain cluster.
“This
is one of the particular aspects of these Olympics, a compact area that
is easier to control and to protect, and all the social events are here
too.
“Another difference is the street patrols in the city,
made not only by police but also by southern Russia’s traditional
Cossacks who are helping to ensure the security of the games.”
euronews:
“Security is the topic that has been talked about constantly due to the recent terrorist attacks in the south of Russia.
Can you feel any threat in Sochi? Does it look like a city at the
centre of a ‘ring of steel’ and does that make life difficult for local
residents, visitors and journalists?”
Denis Loctier, euronews correspondent:
“Frankly,
I thought security measures would be more intense or obvious. In recent
days we haven’t seen anything special as far as security is concerned.
“Still,
patrols have been carried out, especially along the Olympic Torch relay
route. Transport is also being checked, because public transport has
frequently been targeted for terrorist attacks in Russia. But,
otherwise, special security measures are not very visible.
“It
is possible that what we see on the streets is just the tip of the
iceberg. Russian authorities obviously understand that Olympic guests
don’t want to feel like they have ended up in a counter-terrorist zone
as that would spoil the pleasure of their visit.”
euronews:
“Well,
finally….the weather. For the first time, the Winter Olympics are being
held in the subtropics There were fears there would not be enough snow.
What is the reality?”
Denis Loctier, euronews correspondent:
“Obviously,
Sochi does not have what many people think of as a typical Russian
winter. It is actually a seaside resort, more famous for bathing and
getting a suntan on the shores of the Black Sea.
“Nevertheless, so far the Games are running smoothly without any particular glitches.
“In the mountains where the ski slopes are, where the competitions needing snow are being held, it is quite
cold and the quality of the pistes, according to athletes, is wonderful.
“Here,
down near the sea, daytime temperatures are 10-12 degrees Celcius.
There’s a lot of sun and sometimes it is even hot so we have covered
arenas with a controlled climate for relevant competitions.
“So the sunny Sochi weather is not ruining these games but, on the contrary, it is helping to make them
more comfortable.”
source
euronews
