Olympian Steven Lee says he has been blown away by the Sochi Winter Games ...
IT would be an unusual thing to hear mostly good reports before any Olympics - I guess it just doesn't sell the news.After being involved in so many Olympics I take it with a grain (or sometimes a teaspoon) of salt when I read pre-Games banter, but after the constant barrage of negative reports about Sochi and the preparation for these Games, even a glass-half-full kind of guy like I am found it hard not to arrive with some degree of negative expectations.
Within the first several days here I seriously have to question why.
Why all the doom and gloom reports?
Sure if you want mud, you can find it, but I was happy to realise that even an optimistic guy like myself could be totally blown away with this place.
The development, the facilities, the people. It's just awesome.
Fair to say most of the negative reports came from US media, and sadly they are still ongoing. However if you talk with the vast majority on the ground here, it's the opposite; talk with the athletes and it's the total opposite. They are loving everything about this place, so why was the pre-Games banter so, so negative?
I have a theory that it's about envy and jealousy. The negative drive mostly came out of the US, and let's face it: the US is a fading superpower clinging to its days of glory. Russia is clearly on the up and up.
Here is my analogy: Russia was like the crew from the wrong side of the tracks, but they've worked hard, and sure, come into some serious money. With that they have dragged themselves out of the slums, built the kick-arse house, got all the new toys and changed the neighbourhood, big time. I don't think the US likes that much.
Sochi is a really cool coastal city, the Olympic park is stunning. I got my first look at Rosa Khutor ski area Wednesday, and can I say, wow. I have skied pretty much everywhere, this place is Telluride, Whistler and Chamonix stacked on top of each other and rolled into one. It's a mega resort of mega proportions and one I will definitely come back to ski post-Games.
There's been loads of talk about the cost of these Games. I've got to say, looking at the infrastructure, stadiums, roads, rail, airport, towns, resorts and more, all built from scratch in just six years, you can see where the money has been spent.
Honestly, I'm amazed it's been done for so little. Compare it to Australia's big nation-building exercise to deliver a decent internet connection, you'd have to say for this region and country it's been money well spent.
It's not hard to get excited here, there's a great buzz in the air and I'm really looking forward to being a part of it.
I equally look forward to seeing how our Aussie team performs.
With loads of medal potential comes great expectation. I just hope our first medal comes early, taking the pressure off as it could well open the gates and be an amazing two weeks for winter sports in Australia.
Whatever happens - medals or not - we should be proud of our team and winter athletes. They are doing amazing things globally and have stamped their authority across many winter sports. They will represent Australia very well and might just treat Australia to some super proud moments.
I am loving being in Russia and looking forward to the global opinion post-Games.
Let the party begin.
Steven Lee, Olympian and Network Ten commentator
XXII Sochi Winter Olympics. Catch all of the action live and exclusive on Ten.
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