The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    So much for celebration

    When my home country, Brazil, was chosen to host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, I started to reflect on the consequences of that “opportunity.” I remember as a kid always getting really excited about the Olympic Games. As I acquired more knowledge regarding the preparation for those events, the excitement became a big disappointment. At the time the announcement was made I knew right away it would not work out. Not everything said about those events, good or bad, was entirely true.
    For Russia, it took seven years and an estimated $45 billion to host the Olympic Games. Since they have begun, though, people seem to have lost interest. The image Russian President Vladimir Putin was cultivating for months was tarnished with several arising issues diminishing the cheerful atmosphere usually surrounding the games.
    CBS news says travel experts expect this Olympics to see the lowest number of North American spectators in decades and the reasons for this are endless. Sochi is expensive, the hotel accommodations are of poor quality, it is difficult to get visas, there are political issues surrounding the city and there is fear of possible terrorism.
    Athletes and journalists took to their Twitter accounts to vent about all the problems they were encountering. Pictures of the poor conditions in hotel rooms, ranging from very suspicious water to internet wires dangling from the walls, lack of furniture, inappropriate installation of fire hoses and more circulated quickly.
    When I heard the Russian government had ordered the killing of stray animals in order to keep the streets clean for the Olympics, as an animal rights activist, I was enraged. A year before they started, municipal authorities made the announcement to “catch and dispose” strays. According to an article by David M. Herszenhorn published in the New York Times, hundreds of animals have been killed during the past year. Even though authorities were said to have given up the practice, companies were still being hired to do the “job” during the event.
    Thanks to the generosity of Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska, animals saved by volunteers had a place to go. All these animals are now eligible for adoption, even to fans and athletes attending the games.
    The killing of animals was just another severe problem surfaced with the world focusing on Sochi. The country’s passage of legislation that bans gay “propaganda” has been a topic on the news for a while. This has drawn intense criticism over the government and pledges around the world in favor to boycott the Olympics.
    Despite all of the government efforts to take away the focus on the debate for gay rights, this might be the most LGBT-conscious games in history. From the use of gay composer Tchaikovsky’s music during the show and the performance from faux-lesbian singing duo t.A.T.u. at the opening ceremony, Olympic team uniforms and athletes rocking rainbow colored gloves, the government’s attempts to stifle LGBT pride completely backfired.
    So much for uniting the world in one big happy event. There is a lot that needs to be fixed in order for the Olympics to be more about the union of nations and the spirit of celebration instead of being built over so many controversial issues.
    All these problems made me decide to boycott the Olympic Games. It is not easy to take such step, especially since I once loved them. The more I think about it the more I realize if you do not take the first step against something you do not agree with, then you will never see the change you wish for. I am aware that I alone do not make sufficient change, but I know for sure that I do not stand alone.

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