With the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics just a day away, the Aragon community prepares for thrilling games.
The Olympics will be held in Sochi, Russia from Feb. 7 to Feb. 22. Although Russia’s contentious lesbian gay bisexual transgender (LGBT) policies have catalyzed negative reactions from many including some in the Aragon community, anticipation for the Olympics remains undeterred for others.
One student excited for the Olympics is senior Jasmine Chen. Chen is an ice skater at the senior level, which is the Olympic level. Chen says, “I actually have a friend who is going to the Olympics.”
Chen’s friend is Polina Edmunds from San Jose. 15-year-old Edmunds is one of only three skaters on the United States women’s Olympic team.
Chen only watches the figure skating portion of the Winter Olympics because of its relatability.“It’s like watching a football game if you’re interested in football. For me that’s ice skating,” says Chen.
At sophomore Anahita Ghajarrahimi’s house, the Olympics are a family event. “We watch the opening ceremony together and wait to cheer for our country, Iran.”
Many look forward to the snowboarding events the most. Ghajarrahimi states, “I’m very excited for [the Olympics.] I’m a big fan of Shaun White so I’m really looking forward to watch him snowboard from my TV.”
Senior Jordan Lim says, “It’s exciting to watch athletes push themselves to the limit. I like watching the [snowboard] riders catch air and show off all their tricks.”
However, some Aragon students are upset at Russia’s LGBT policies, which also extend to foreign Olympic participants and spectators. Since this is the first Winter Olympics hosted by the Russian Federation, it is also the first time for the Olympics that LGBT policies have generated this much negative reaction.
Such laws include no recognitions of same-sex relationships, protection for discriminators, and prohibition of “propaganda of nontraditional sexual practices” among minors.
However, Russia’s President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin publicly announced there would be no arrests as long as people abide by the current laws.
Aragon’s Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) club president and senior Shannon Thielen states, “The policy is horribly unjust. As an LGBT advocate, [I find] it ridiculous.” Despite her thoughts, Thielen says she will watch the Olympics.
She says, “I’m disappointed in the Olympic committee for not moving it and not taking the pushbacks as seriously as they should have taken it.”
“Obviously a lot of people in the activist community aren’t happy with Putin’s policies but as far as the Olympics go, I don’t think it will be that big of an issue,” says Thielen.
However, security remains a major concern, as Russian authorities have struggled to quell terrorist threats on the event. 40,000 troops and police are currently stationed in the city. The U.S. State Department has issued warnings to Americans traveling to the region.
Although the Olympics will be an exciting time for many, controversy and security concerns persist.
