Posted on 02/05/2014 12:26:46 AM PST by cunning_fish
SOCHI, Russia - Nothing to fear.
That's how a few of the first U.S. athletes to arrive at the Sochi Games feel after getting their first look at an unprecedented security presence ringing the Olympics.
With militant groups threatening to attack during the next few weeks, security and the safety of competitors and visitors to the coastal area and in the nearby mountains that will host the events has become both heightened and inescapable.
Although the overwhelming forces — an estimated 100,000 police, agents and army troops are on hand — don't ensure there won't be any problems, the sheer numbers of security personnel have put some athletes at ease.
"As far as safety over here, I'm looking at it from the standpoint of a soldier," said U.S. bobsled member Dallas Robinson, who is also a sergeant in the Kentucky National Guard. "A lot of our soldiers are in combat zones where there's hundreds of thousands of people who don't want them there, people that are headhunting. We're in an area where there's hundreds of thousands of people protecting us.
"I feel pretty safe."
So secure, in fact, that on Sunday Robinson and teammate Johnny Quinn ventured outside the athlete's village on bicycles and rode to the media centre to get a better grasp of the immense security detail.
"We rode to the front door and circled around before four or five guards looked at us and finally said, 'Hey, you can't be here,'" Robinson said. "But they've been great. They've been respectful and very professional.
(Excerpt) Read more at uk.news.yahoo.com ...
I want anybody but the US to win in hockey, because the US hockey committee didn’t choose Kyle Okposo, who’s ranked 3rd in points among US players. They chose some Rangers who are far below in both goals scored and points.
It’s a sham. I hope they lose. The guy doesn’t give up.
If I thought as I presume Putin to think. I may arrange for a fake riot to take place, and have these Ukrainian and Chechen Evil-Doers brought down hard by a team of my government men. I would ‘permit’ a tape of the Government Raid to be leaked to the press. None of the Offenders would be permitted any interviews though. Putin may even invite Mitt Romney to come to Russia (at Russia’s expense!) and advise them on how to produce an true Olympic success. The purpose of such a Potemkin Conquest would be to impress the West, make Obama look like a weak wobbler by comparrison, and allow people to relax with their Vodka rations and enjoy this Sochi Olympic
>> The purpose of such a Potemkin Conquest would be to impress the West, make Obama look like a weak wobbler by comparison,
Excellent speculation that falls apart with the unnecessary element of making Obama look weak.
Now, I must listen to some Rimsky-Korsakov or Borodin.
Don’t forget Dmitri Shostskovich and his talking piano concertoes.
I haven’t given a lot of attention to Shostskovich’s piano concertos; however, his 5th was my first classical album as an adolescent. The 3rd movement is teats.
Tchaikovsky is prolly my most preferred. And Rachmaninoff is fun to play.
Preferred recordings: Herbert Von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker on Deutsche Grammaphon. Technically excellent. I’ve been making it a point, however, to be less demanding in search of different “performance passions” if you will...
Interesting note on Bernstein’s performance of Shostskovich’s 5th — Shostskovich disliked it. He stated Bernstein failed to convey the despair — the orchestration was too bright, too energetic.
If you know any other FReepers that are into this, let’s connect. I’m very interested.
Just don’t drink the water
Extrordinary, that even Leonard Bernstein as director could not please Shostko. But original artists are notorious for their exclusivity. A fan of classical music does benefit from being open minded as to who is reproducing a particular piece. Some of the German Organists of Baroque Bach, such as Otto Winter are next to impossible to find. Otto Winter did a Pipe Organ Fuque Fantasia, and one of Bachs more popular Organ Toccatas in a fresh, strong and passionate style. I have never heard his equal.
Ongoing updates:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3010644/posts
“Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Security Will Be Beefed Up...”
TELEGRAPH.co.uk ^ | 10:10AM BST 16 Apr 2013 | By Telegraph Sport, and agencies
Posted on April 21, 2013 at 4:11:43 PM PDT by Cindy
>> Otto Winter are next to impossible to find
I’ll look for it. I’m curious.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.