I wouldn't count on it, I think we will see some interesting judging and politics. Just take the disgraceful Vancouver olymic site. On it they have covered a negative view of Oksana's and Maxim's Aboriginal interpretation. They know well the game they are playing carying this sort of article. It has no place on an olympic site. I am surprised we haven't raised an objection to it. It has no place in a balanced fair coverage of sport and certainly arises suspicion on how Canada are trying to 'orgainse' the results. No issues with this in the press, but not on an olympic site. It is bad sportsmanship; is that how it will play out in Vancouver! maybe so for us!

Perhaps, the headline should have said that "Russian hopes/ aims to win 7 Gold Metals in Vancouver" because Russia plans to win 7 Gold Metals in Vancouver seems to suggest that there is plan afoot to win these gold metals! Russia should in fact aim for much higher Gold metal count for a winter game of this magnitude. I am deeply saddened that Russia has not recovered its former glory of winning lots gold metals in international winter games since the collapse of the USSR. Russia can easily win first place in man's figure skating, ice dancing, but when it comes to other areas such as speed skating, Canada will most likely will more gold metals than Russia. I am more than certain that Canada can win at least 7 gold metals in the speed skating category alone. So if Russia is aiming 7 gold metals, this should be good for Canada. Of course, in Canada the only gold metal that counts is the Men’s Hockey! I am sure the same is true for Russia. So what we are really talking about is who will win the Men’s Hockey final.

Count Cash First, let me say that I love both Canada and Russia. Now,Canada has its present and past injustices against indigenous people. However, if I were you I would not point an accusing finger at Canada when Russia treats all its citizens and not just its indigenous people much worse than Canada. Both Canada and Russia depend on natural resource based economies and yet the living standards for ordinary people, safety and security in Canada is much higher than in Russia. I also find it offensive that Russian Olympic Gold Metal winners receive huge cash and expensive/ luxury cars from the public purse! Why is this corrupt practice tolerated in Russia? In Canada, Olympic Gold Metal winners do not receive public money for winning Gold Metal for Canada. In fact, I advice ordinary Russians watch that the Sochi winter games are not staged at the expanse of funding cuts to essential services such as healthcare and education. In Vancouver, yes, ordinary people are saying no to funding corporate games which are staged for the benefits of corporations because these games are financed with public money. But is this not a reason for you to call the “beautiful Vancouver a disgraceful site”? Canadians are very respectful of Russia. Russian athletics and officials will receive warm hospitality while in BC. Russia needs to bring running water and electricity to ordinary Russian communities, fix the national infrastructure such as roads and worry less about the internal affairs of Canada. Hundred of thousands of Russian have left Russia since the collapse of the USSR for better lives in Canada. I do not see Canadians fleeing to Russia in search of better lives. I have a distinct feeling that Russian media criticism against Canada's staging of the Vancouver games is a way to deflect the misuse of public resources in Russia where small class control the nation’s wealth and ordinary people live poverty. This is the real disgrace.

Katrina, Think Website, not site! Before going into attack mode! But if you want to start taliking site, then maybe you should honestly mention no2010 campaign, That there is complaints that the olympics is far from the happy picture you paint with respect to Native Americans ... But as the Website was my point, I really am not that interested in dealing with the usual high horse evaluations of how wonderful Canada is, yes it is great I lived there for some years, but Canada has some pretty interesting and nasty politics inside, especially when it comes to Russia. Sorry thats just the way it is.

Count Cash Counry Cash, The term “site” is a metaphoric spatial signifier and it can include an ethereal/virtual spatial site such as an internet website as a virtual site. Website can only be a nesting site for birds. So let us not get into the ontological meaning of “site” here. Now, I think it is utterly foolish for the Russia economic and social reality based on the hyper accumulation of the wealth of the nation in the hands of small percentage of the filthy rich to enter the fray in debating about how Canada treats its First Nations people. This is particular so when the Russia’s ruling elite treat the ordinary Russian citizens includes of any all ethnic groups with callous disregard. I was disgusted when I saw Russian Gold Metal winners from the 2008 Beijing Olympic winter games receiving huge sums of cash and expensive cares from the President of the Russian Federation Mr. Medvedev! Why is this corruption tolerated in Russia? If one wants to compete for his country, yes, he or she should receive training facilities and all the necessary care and living allowances but he/she not receive expansive cars and thousands of dollars of cash bonuses the public expense. To be sure these games are represent massive corporate fraud and are staged for the benefits of corporation but I think Canadians have more freedom to voice their displeasure with Olylpmic games draining of public resources than the next one in Sochi. I cannot see Russians having equal freedom to confront oligarchs and corporate lords preparing the Sochi games in 2014.

Katrina, So am I so good you named me twice, well sort of :-) There aren't any metaphors here, just a contextual meaning. Anyway please look at the original comment in the context of website then let's discuss. It was my fault for not being specific, although I thought it difficult to compare a physical site with media, but I should have been clearer. Apologies for my poor English. I don't really want to get into another discussion on Russia under a heading on Canadian Olympics, because I really try to respect the topic of every thread. However, as you raised some comparative materials, I think it reasonable to deal with them. I will ignore the one on wealth, not because a discussion is not possible or I avoid it, just that it is well off topic. Now you raise the issue of Athletes receiving remuneration - now I would disagree with you here. Why shouldn't an athlete receive financial rewards for their dedication and effort. They are the ones who underpin the whole financial gravy train behind an Olympics. Why should the workers work for free. It is not corrupt to reward success. In fact it is morally corrupt to expect people to do things for nothing. What reward an athlete wants is up to them, maybe fame is enough, maybe a car, but for me this is all free choice, except for the caveat that there may be governing body rules that are being broken. In that sense then I would have to agree that it could be viewed as corruption. However, governing rules usually have ways around, when things are loaned or put on trust.... so without knowing the exact rules and facts, it is difficult to say one situation is definitely corrupt as you strongly point to in your allegations. Now with regard to Sochi, I would absolutely agree that there is the same level of disruption to the locals, but I see the lack of complaints more in terms of lack of mechanism and knowhow how to publicize, rather than some government conspiracy. (out of space)

Count Cash Naming twice was a typo error but I like your comments on many issues and you must know that I have strong love for all things Russian. I used post under “Sarah” until it was appropriated by somebody else. When you brought human rights and colonial accusation against Canada and when Russia has done the same and worse to its native population, then bring Russia’s own subjugation of its native population and neglect of ordinary citizens is totally valid. As for contextual use of terms, I am all for it but I cannot see why you needed to be pedantic about my use of “site” which was clearly meant signify website? Athletics must not receive huge sums of cash for winning metals for their nation. This sends wrong and dangerous message. I hope that President Medvedev uses the money instead to build community based sports/recreation facilities. There is something called pride in oneself. Athletics can earn money through corporate sponsorship. I would endorse the idea of giving them free education but not huge cash and luxury cars at expense of the public. This practice is in line with the corruption that plagues Russia.

How's that medal count working out for them?