The 2014 Winter Olympics opened in Sochi, Russia on Friday. The games have been mired in controversy since before they began: Sochi is only 180 miles from an ongoing war zone in the Caucasus Mountains, which is why the games will have the largest security force on any Olympics in history. Russia's homophobic laws have led many to boycott and protest the games. Journalists have been given rooms in hotels that are not fully constructed, with undrinkable water and poor facilities. How do you feel about the Winter Olympics taking place in Sochi? 

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Prof. Irina Dubinina (GRALL)

I agree with Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, that the Olympics are about building bridges to bring people together. And in my opinion, the focus should be on athletes first. But the hosting country also comes into the spotlight months before the games even open. The spotlight can promote the country in the eyes of the world, but it also exposes its problems. The promotion is precisely what Russia sought (please don't think that only Putin wanted these games to happen in Russia!). An overwhelmingly negative coverage in the Western media is what Russia got. Don't take me wrong: there is much to criticize about the Russian society, from the unprecedented scale of corruption to the homophobia of most Russians and more! There are also documented problems with the state of preparedness which brings shame to the Russian organizers. But there is a thin line between criticism and schadenfreude in which much of the American media is engaged turning the Russian Olympics and the country itself into a joke. The only issue that is not a joke to anyone is the threat of terrorism, but even this topic does not often receive an impartial coverage. Yet if we are to find the much needed solution to our common problem of terrorism, we desperately need each other, and schadenfreude is not the way to build bridges.

Prof. Irina Dubinina (GRALL) is the director of the Russian Studies program. 

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Prof. Peter Gould (PAX)

In the past, Olympic games have been held close to war zones. There have been local problems, international threats, fierce objection to the politics of the host country and the oncoming or receding tides of war. While protesting or boycotting the games could be a strong statement, it takes away from the dedication, and long years of training, of the participating athletes. I lived through the 1980 summer Olympic boycott-he U.S. protested the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. No matter how sensible it might have seemed, no matter how intense the feelings we had about murderous Russian troops sacking Afghan homes, most people today only remember that athletes' hopes and dreams were shattered, that the decision proved an unpopular embarrassment to President Jimmy Carter, and, anyway, in the next generation we invaded Afghanistan and did the same things. Send all our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual and queer, etc. athletes to Sochi and show the world that in this matter at least we lead freely.

Prof. Peter Gould (PAX) is a lecturer in Peace, Conflict and Coexistence Studies. He teaches PAX 120b: "Inner Peace and Outer Peace." 

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Joseph Babeu '15

As a Russian Studies major and LGBTQ advocate, my feelings regarding the Sochi Winter Olympics are mixed.  On the one hand, I want for the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Russia to be something other than a joke about the Soviet Union-a hugely successful Winter Olympics would help do that.  On the other hand, the Russian government has made some truly horrendous policy decisions regarding the queer community.  While the games' success may not be as relevant to this problem, I feel as though simply having the Olympics in Russia is.  It provides a focus on Russia that I do not think would otherwise be present.  In today's day and age, keeping oneself informed about international events seems to be becoming less and less common.  Without these games, I am sure that the righteous outrage now directed at Russia would not be present.

Joseph Babeu '15 is the president of the Russian Club. 

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Molly Gimbel '16

From my eyes as an LGBTQ+ activist, I can understand the resistance and hesitation from the countries participating in the games, as the newly implemented laws in the country are considered homophobic by these countries' standards. That being said, I also believe that having the games in Sochi is forcing much of the U.S. to recognize other LGBTQ+ issues- besides the fight for marriage equality. The unity of much of the world is showing to express their disapproval with Russia's new laws is a promising sign. It shows many people within the LGBTQ+ community that there are many people who want to help fight for equal rights. Hopefully, their unity on this issue can be utilized to create a more unifying group to fight for the more basic issues and needs of those in the LGBTQ+ community across the world and the states.

Molly Gimbel '16 is the general coordinator of Triskelion, Brandeis University's GLBTQSA student group.