Sochi 2014: Celebrating authoritarianism - Opinion - Al Jazeera English:
Much of the international discussion of Sochi the Olympics has focused on the seeming irrationality of the enterprise, as manifested by the choice of location, the cost of the games, and the looming security threats. Simone Baumann's recent documentary, "Putin's Games" illuminates the madness of Sochi's remodelling in the run-up to the games and exposes the natural and man-made obstacles, such as unfavourable ecological conditions, bureaucratic inefficiencies and immense levels of corruption. The film shows that the Sochi Olympics has been Vladimir Putin's "pet project" from the very beginning. Putin's proud announcement [Ru] that Sochi is, "without exaggeration, the world's largest construction site" and a "celebration for the entire world" reflects the president's broader vision of Russia's global geopolitical status and articulates his imperial aspirations for the country.
The Winter Olympics reflect Russia's grand global aspirations [Reuters]
