The Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia for 2014 are getting very close and in just a few weeks the opening ceremony will kick off and the coverage on TV will be handled by NBC for the duration of the schedule and it picks up on February 7 from the network and they will have all the events an competitions live, including hockey, figure skating, bobsledding, curling skiing and much more.
The Sochi games have come under fire for many reasons, including security, the cost of the games as well as the human rights issues against homosexuals and now the event is close to actually starting. The games have been years in the making and despite the terrible use of money, corruption from Vladimir Putin, hate against gays, suicide bombers, terrorist attacks and lack of snow in the region, Russia says that the games are set to go off without a hitch, expect for all that mentioned already.
The United State has the military on standby and support for Russia with the games and the US national delegation will be without one of its best, as Lindsey Vonn will miss the games with a knee injury. Her celebrity power is a tough loss for NBC, but they are getting a summer athlete into the mix, as Lolo Jones made it on the US bobsledding team and they will compete in these games in the main event. Jones as well as Lauryn Williams are members of the US national track team and they are push athletes on the team.
Jones has not won a medal in the summer games, although she was close in China before blowing it and she has gained attention for her mess-ups in social media as well as the fact that she is a virgin. Jones comes in after competing in the games in London two years ago and now she has the chance to get a medal with the US team in Sochi.
The hockey competition is expected to be fierce on both the men's and women's sides for the US and Canada, as both are looking to win gold. Sidney Crosby leads the gold medal Canadian team, while the US is looking to get revenge after losing the finals in Vancouver last time out. According to ESPN.com, the US will have military personnel and ships on standby for the games and they are offering help when needed to Russia.
Click here for a full schedule and for more from SWR on the Olympics.
