Olympic anticipation

Next week, one of the most epic sporting events in history will be televised globally. No, it isn’t the Heat-Pistons game, the Northwestern-Briar Cliff basketball game or even the Super Bowl. On Feb. 7, the XXII Olympic Winter Games will kick off in Sochi, Russia.

The 2010 Winter Olympics, held in Vancouver Canada, were watched by 190 million people worldwide. Although we can expect similar results during these Olympics, many people aren’t sure what to think about the location chosen for the games.

“I don’t really know anything about (Sochi), but it seems like it could be OK,” senior Jack Johnson said.

Senior Micah Czirr expressed similar feelings when asked what he thought about the games being held in Sochi.

“I have no comment, other than it looks nice in the pictures,” Czirr said.

So what should viewers think about this random and seemingly unknown city where their Olympics will be held? Sochi is located on the coast of the Black Sea near the country of Georgia/Abkhazia. It boasts a population of nearly 400,000, and is said to be the longest city in Europe, at a sprawling 90 miles.

Sochi has built itself up as a resort city due to its proximity to the Black Sea, and, ironically, its humid subtropical climate. An average winter day in Sochi is 52 degrees Fahrenheit.

Russia has never hosted the Winter Olympics before, although the Soviet Union welcomed the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow. Sochi is making a statement by hosting the most expensive Olympic Games ever, with construction costs exceeding $50 billion, which is $46.4 billions more than the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, according to an article previously published by Reuters.

Many NW students are eagerly anticipating the commencement of the Olympic Games. Like many others around the globe, Czirr said he enjoys the Winter Olympics.

“It gives a chance for a lot of countries to get together for reasons other than politics, compete against each other, have fun and play for their honor,” Czirr said.

Many others watch the games to see sports that aren’t typically shown on television.

Johnson said he likes “watching sports that I don’t get to see very often.” The Winter Games definitely provide that for viewers, with its 98 different events covering 15 disciplines. There’s a good chance that viewers can turn on the television and watch a sport they haven’t seen since the Vancouver games.

Although Americans can rattle off the names of Summer Olympians such as Michael Phelps, Gabby Douglas and Misty May-Treanor, it’s more difficult to come up with the names of successful U.S Winter Olympic athletes.

The 2014 U.S Olympic team is sending 230 athletes to Sochi, the most ever for the Winter Olympics. Thirteen are defending gold medalists, while 106 are competing in at least their second winter games.

Keep an eye out for Nordic combined skier Todd Lodwick, the first American to compete in six Winter Olympic Games. It may also come as a surprise to know that Des Moines-born Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones is a member of the women’s bobsled team, along with three-time Olympic sprinter Lauryn Williams.

Two more members of the U.S men’s team include long track speed skater Shani Davis, and snowboarder Shaun White. Autumn Pluim, NW student, admits that Shaun White, two-time gold medalist in the halfpipe and inventor of the famous “Tomahawk” — which involves two flips and three and a half spins — is the only reason that her favorite winter Olympic sport is snowboarding.

The games will comence on Saturday, Feb. 8 with the biathlon and will consist of 15 events. Fans can expect to see Lodwick compete next Wednesday in the individual qualifying round and again on Feb. 20 in the team qualifying round. White will be competing next Tuesday in the halfpipe qualifying round. Jones and Willaism will race on Feb. 18. Davis will skate on Feb. 12 in the men’s 1000m race and on Feb. 15 in the 1500m.