Russian forces are on high alert to ward off possible militant attacks at the games, which began yesterday. Tens of thousands of police and military personnel have been deployed to guard the event, which faces threats of terror attacks by Islamic insurgents from the North Caucasus region.
“This is a record for the Winter Games — three times the number in Vancouver,’’ he said in his final update to the IOC general assembly.
The US Transportation Security Administration on Thursday temporarily banned carry-on liquids, aerosols, gels and powders on flights between Russia and the United States, said a Department of Homeland Security official. This followed a US warning on Wednesday to airports and some airlines flying to Russia to look out for toothpaste tubes that could hold ingredients to make bombs on board a plane.
Mr Chernyshenko said a record 2,860 athletes from 88 countries had registered for the games and offered assurances that Russian security will ensure safety at the event.
The games have also come under scrutiny due to Russia’s record on human rights and its law banning gay propaganda among minors.
Sochi organisers have declined to provide the names of leaders attending the opening ceremony or the countries they represent. The IOC, however, said on Wednesday it was aware that 44 world leaders were going to the games. Mr Chernyshenko’s figures could be higher due to the inclusion of international organisations.
A number of world leaders are skipping the event, including President Barack Obama, French President Francois Hollande and British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed as nonsense the talk that few foreign leaders were attending the Games. “They started counting when they decided that they should spoil things for Russia, so Russia would feel uncomfortable,” he told Russian news agency RIA Novosti. AGENCIES
http://www.todayonline.com/world/europe/record-number-leaders-attending-winter-olympics
8/2/14
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3 billion watch Sochi Games Opening Ceremony ...
ReplyDeleteThe worldwide audience of the bombastic opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Olympics on Friday stood at 3 billion, organizers said in a statement.
Another 40,000 watched the ceremony at the Fisht stadium in the Sochi Olympic Park, the statement said.
The three-hour show, which offered an epic overview of Russian history in 18 parts, utilized a staff of 12,000.
Participants included opera star Anna Netrebko, ballet dancers Svetlana Zakharova and Danila Korsuntsev, and cosmonauts Sergei Krikalev and Svetlana Savitskaya.
Controversial faux-lesbian pop band tATu, initially rumored to perform at the ceremony, only appeared in the pre-show. However, the Russian team entered the Parade of Nations to the mash-up of their hit “Not Gonna Get Us” and Queen’s “We Will Rock You.”
Audience of the opening ceremony at the previous Winter Games in Vancouver was put by organizers at 1 billion. Between 1 billion and 4 billion, by various estimates, watched the show that kicked off the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
The Sochi Olympics run February 7 to 23. About 3,500 athletes will compete for 98 medals in 15 disciplines.
Read more: http://indian.ruvr.ru/news/2014_02_08/3-billion-watch-Sochi-Games-Opening-Ceremony-9849/
8/2/14
Die teuersten Spiele aller Zeiten .... Gigantismus à la Putin ....
ReplyDeleteDie Ausrichtung der Olympischen Spiele ist das große Prestigeobjekt von Präsident Wladimir Putin. Nur kostet es 50 Milliarden Dollar - so viel wie kein anderes sportliches Event zuvor.
Die Eröffnungsfeier der Olympischen Spiele in Sotschi wurde zurückhaltend kommentiert. Etwas bieder und emotionslos sei sie gewesen, meinten viele. Doch begeisterte Kritiken waren ohnehin nicht zu erwarten gewesen. Dafür sind diese Spiele zu stark belastet mit anderen Themen. Da wäre zum Beispiel die Terrorgefahr, aber auch der Umgang Russlands mit Minderheiten wie Homosexuellen. Die Welt möchte nicht unbedingt an dieser Party teilnehmen, hat man den Eindruck................http://www.n24.de/n24/Sport/mehr-sport/olympische-winterspiele/d/4249410/gigantismus-%C3%A0-la-putin.html#sthash.KKCbFO5J.dpuf
8/2/14
Ouverture des JO de Sotchi : 3 milliards de téléspectateurs dans le monde.....
ReplyDeleteEn France, la retransmission de la cérémonie d'ouverture des Jeux olympiques d'hiver a permis à France 2 de réaliser 35,1% de part d'audience, soit 5,5 millions de personnes.
Environ trois milliards de téléspectateurs dans le monde ont regardé la cérémonie d’ouverture des Jeux olympiques vendredi soir à Sotchi en Russie, a indiqué samedi le Comité d’organisation. «La cérémonie a été regardée par 40.000 spectateurs rassemblés au stade de Fisht et par 3 milliards de téléspectateurs à travers le monde», a précisé le comité dans un communiqué.
En Europe, ce grand show de deux heures et demie a été particulièrement suivi en Allemagne, avec une audience de 8,99 millions de téléspectateurs (40% de part d’audience), selon le site spécialisé Meedia. Il s’agit de la cérémonie d’ouverture la plus regardée en Allemagne pour des JO d’hiver depuis Lillehammer en Norvège en 1994 (9,24 millions de téléspectateurs).
5,5 millions de téléspectateurs pour France 2
Côté médias hexagonaux, la cérémonie a réuni 5,5 millions de téléspectateurs, a indiqué samedi France Télévisions. Avec ce programme, France 2 a réalisé 35,1% de part d'audience.......................http://www.lesechos.fr/entreprises-secteurs/service-distribution/actu/0203302783816-france-2-5-5-millions-de-personnes-devant-la-ceremonie-d-ouverture-des-jo-de-sotchi-648947.php?xtor=RSS-2059
8/2/14