The Winter Olympics Are Doomed Already

The news is not good for President Putin and the people of Sochi. Despite an investment of more than $50 billion, the Russian town of Sochi is clearly not ready for the Olympics. There are just 2 days until the events commence and journalists have arrived in force. The story they are reporting is depressing and predictable. Despite the huge investment, builders are desperately working into the night to try and complete the unfinished structures. The pictures tell a story of doom and gloom.

While organizers successfully erected the Olympic rings outside the Sochi airport, their organizational success ended there. Hotels are incomplete, infrastructure is missing, entertainment is limited, terrorist threats are high, homosexuality is banned and the event is undersold.

After the horrific bombing in December at the Volgograd train station, President Putin has his countries credibility at stake and he knows it. Anti air force machinery is positioned on the hills above the town of Sochi in fear of more terrorist attacks. Reportedly, 40,000 troops have moved into the area in a bid to keep the event safe. Are the Winter Olympics doomed already?

Perhaps not.

NBC producer Billy Mathews has been producing the Olympics since 1988 and went on record saying, "I've seen other Olympics that were in much worse shape at this point and you are wondering how they could ever pull it together. Sure, it seems like it's a little behind schedule but there is time. In Athens, they were still building while we were on the air. Yes, there will be a lot of stuff that won't be finished in time, but as far as the venues and the competition, it's all ready."

There are many athletes who are hoping Mr. Mathews is correct. After grueling months of preparation, these events are their chance to win recognition for their country, their sport and themselves. When the Winter Olympics commence on Friday, 2,871 of the world's best athletes will be hoping these 2014 Games to be a success and 44 heads of State are promising to attend.

The TV coverage will be extensive and that's no wonder. Winter sports offer racy, pulse beating entertainment. These next three weeks offer world class races in events as popular as ice skating and as obscure as skeleton sled. New events include team figure skating, classics include luge. Snowboarding, curling and biathlon are still in force.

The attendees may not have hot showers in the morning. The new $371 million theme park tentatively named, "The Sochi Adventureland" may not be complete. Yellow tap water, endless stray dogs, peeled paint, lost reservations may be the experience of the brave attendees but from our comfortable homes, the Winter Olympics will be exciting. The athletes will parade through the opening ceremony in snazzy outfits. Personal stories of struggle against adversity will win our heart. Tivo machines will get a workout. We may not even see footage of the large number of unsold seats after all. Perhaps the Winter Olympics are not doomed to fail.