<p>I’ve been watching the US Speed Skating Trials this weekend. WINTER OLYMPICS BEST OLYMPICS!</p>
<p>Two of my Ds and their SOs, and my H, are going to Sochi and are very excited. We love the Winter Olympics!</p>
<p>Go team USA! </p>
<p>(And I hope gay athletes, no matter what countries they are from, win as many medals as possible and have a blast at the games - right in front of Putin’s ugly face).</p>
<p>D1 is VERY excited that she got her roommate tickets for Christmas, for the two of them to attend the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Boston in a couple of weeks since it’s the last qualifying event before the selection of the U.S. Team.</p>
<p>Eh, not specifically mentioning any controversies because of the venue for this conversation, but I’m completely against politicizing the Olympics, which is the whole point.</p>
<p>teriwitt, I am so envious of your daughter! I am a figure skating fanatic and thought about attending nationals, but the timing didn’t work out. 
I will be watching online and on TV though. The men’s competition should be the most exciting. There are only two spots for Sochi, and I am rooting for three guys that are all deserving.</p>
<p>CHIHSI, Thanks for the heads up about the speed skating trials. Do you know if there is also coverage tomorrow? </p>
<p>I agree that the Winter Olympics are the best.</p>
<p>Simon Shnapir, the male half of the #1 US pairs skating team, used to work at the Starbucks I like to sit at. Really nice guy. Used to cheer him up when his back was bothering him, which is pretty often in pairs skating.</p>
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<p>However, the modern Olympics has had political undercurrents before. Consider the 1936 Olympic games.</p>
<p>And 1980, et. al.
[Olympic</a> Games scandals and controversies - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Games_scandals_and_controversies]Olympic”>List of Olympic Games scandals and controversies - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>I look forward to the opening ceremony. </p>
<p>After the unmitigated disasters exhibited in Vancouver and London, one could hope a return of the grandiose spectacle of Beijing. The Russians surely have spent fortunes on the infrastructure and hopefully saved a bit to hire enough talented people to keep us and the athletes awake.</p>
<p>Also enjoy the opening ceremony. Got to go the the dress rehearsal for the opening ceremonies in 1996. That was fun.</p>
<p>Well, one thing that will be pretty certain amongst all the certainty is that NBC will screw up the coverage.</p>
<p>I’m so happy to hear that people are excited. Our daughter was just named to her Olympic team in figure skating. It’s been seventeen years since she laced up her first pair of skates and stepped onto the ice for her first group lesson. It still doesn’t seem real.</p>
<p>Lady Lorna, huge congratulations to your daughter on her wonderful success! You must be over the moon!</p>
<p>Thank you! She has worked so hard and shown such dedication. We are just so very proud of her.</p>
<p>I can only imagine how excited you all must be! Are you planning on being in Sochi? </p>
<p>A girl from my son’s college is vying for a spot on the Aussie ski team (not sure when they announce) but she is one of the top contenders to make it. I have no idea who she is and she’s not even a friend of my son but I’m super excited to be able to cheer for her, if she makes it.</p>
<p>Wow, Lady Lorna; that is amazing. Big congrats to her and to you! Making the Olympic team in figure skating is no small feat, and I know that it requires much work and sacrifice. I hope you all enjoy every moment in Sochi. Wishing her the very best!</p>
<p>Lady Lorna, congratulations to your daughter! What a wonderful accomplishment and it will be such a great experience for her. This may be an obvious suggestion but if you and your family are planning on attending the competition in Sochi, get your rooms booked ASAP. We booked ours months ago and the worry for many involved is that there is going to be a real shortage of acceptable accommodation.</p>
<p>Lady Loma - that is awesome! I hope you let us know who she is so we can root her on. Though I root them all on! Is she pairs, single, ice dancing?</p>
<p>I’ve always loved figure skating - even sported the Dorothy Hamil haircut back in the day 
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<p>I actually enjoy all the events even if it’s tough to watch spoiler free.</p>