Countdown To Sochi

"Canadians should be aware that, although the host country will have special security arrangements in place at Olympic venues, this does not eliminate the risk of terrorist attacks.
"The decision to travel despite these concerns rests with the traveller, and such decisions should be considered carefully."
"[The government is] working with the appropriate Russian government agencies as well as like-minded allies [to safeguard the Olympics but those thinking of attending should think twice."
Advice for Canadians Attending Sochi 2014 Winter Games, Government of Canada Travel Advisory

"So, it's wonderful place for Olympics, first. Secondly, it's not close to war zone. There is no war zone in Russia. But, we do not take it lightly so we have good planning. We have excellent specialists who I have working on it. We have put up pretty strong team that is working to deny terrorists any chance of success. And I am absolutely sure that we are going to succeed."
Sergey Kislyak, Russian ambassador to the United States

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

"Canadians travelling to the Sochi 2014 Winter Games should take sensible precautions and maintain a high level of vigilance and be aware of their personal surroundings at all times and in all places. They should avoid demonstrations, exercise caution in public places, monitor local developments and follow the advice of local authorities."
Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Consular Services

Sounds like a fun place to be. If you really love sports and relish the opportunity to be right there in person and in the flesh, on hand to see the world's most fit, talented and capable sport figures compete against one another determined to net for themselves and their countries, those gold awards. Under duress, silver and (sigh) bronze recognitions of the very best and most accomplished. And with that, the added thrill of vigilance.

REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Russia's ambassador to the U.S. felt compelled to make a very special promise that all will be well, and everyone will have a rip-roaring wonderful time at Sochi, the southern resort on the Black Sea that is "as safe as the rest of Russia", and how's that for a commendation? The United States and Canada have both issued travel alerts to their citizens. Those cautionary bits of advice simply required a response, and there it was.

Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney claimed the Sochi Winter Games represented an "attractive" terrorist target and that airports and border crossings, in the estimation of Canadian security and intelligence authorities were "particularly vulnerable". So, go if you will, but do take care. The "most likely threat" continued the travel advisory, was pointed out to be an umbrella group for armed factions called Imarat Kavkaz, if that's any help to the prospective traveller.

Bud Mercer, the RCMP officer in charge of security at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler where no untoward incidents of a violent nature occurred, informed CTV it was his belief that the sporting venues and athletes' villages could be assured of security. "I think it's the rest of Sochi that will create the challenge", he offered.

Because of its close proximity to armed Islamists sharing the al-Qaeda credo, Sochi is particularly vulnerable to attack.

Which leads to the question, why then, would Vladimir Putin, for whom the mounting of the Winter Olympics in Sochi is a personal and dearly-held vanity, would that be his selection of venue to bring out the international sports community and its huge circles of admirers in a demonstration of Russian pride and strength? Because he thrives on challenges?

"They plan to hold the Olympics on the bones of our ancestors, on the bones of many, many dead Muslims buried on our land by the Black Sea. We as mujahedin [soldiers of God] are required not to allow that, using any methods that Allah allows us", incited terrorist leader Doku Umarov to his followers, urging them to attack Sochi.

The Russian president is proud of demonstrating his physical dexterity and prowess among wildlife, tigers and the like; he can fly with cranes, he can deep-sea dive and bring up priceless artefacts, he can ride a stallion bare-back like a true Cossack, and he can risk the lives of sport contestants and revellers in his bid to challenge the Caucasus terrorists to crack his security because he is, after all, Vladimir Putin.