With the Sochi Winter Olympics officially upon us, the world’s attention will likely be fixed on Sochi, Russia, a small resort town built almost solely to house the new Olympic venue. There have been plenty of discussions in popular media outlets about the living conditions for athletes and spectators in Sochi as well as the alleged corruption which has made the Sochi Olympics the most expensive in history. One topic, however, has received a somewhat lower profile.

There has been a lot of media expressing concern about Russia’s official stance regarding LGBT athletes and spectators, but most discussions of potential terror threats are focused on domestic Russia. However, the House Homeland Security Committee is advising airlines that fly nonstop to Russia that “explosive materials could be concealed in toothpaste or cosmetic tubes.”

Because of the expected concentration of people in Sochi as spectators go to watch the Olympics, homeland security officials are worried that any explosives might be used either in the air or detonated once the traveler reaches Sochi. However, “authorities have increasing confidence about the safety of Sochi and the Olympic venues. Still, U.S. intelligence is picking up increasing chatter that causes worry about targets outside the Sochi area, including regional transportation links.”
The parties which are of major concern include domestic Russian terrorists from the southern regions of the county, as well as potential al Qaeda cells. Representative Peter King, from New York said that “he believes the athletes and American spectators are ‘reasonably safe,’ but noted that he would not go himself.
‘Just as a spectator, I don’t think it’s worth the risk. I mean, odds are nothing is going to happen, but the odds are higher than for any other Olympics, I believe, that something could happen’”.
Would you go to the Olympics this year? What responsibility does the Russian government have to keep the international contingent safe?