Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics

[alfred russel]

How about New Zealand?

The problem with holding the winter Olympics in the Southern Hemisphere is that you would have to go for the July / August timeframe.

[Admiral Yi]

The problem with holding the winter Olympics in the Southern Hemisphere is that you would have to go for the July / August timeframe.

How's that a problem?

[Capetan Mihali]

Almaty!

[alfred russel]

The problem with holding the winter Olympics in the Southern Hemisphere is that you would have to go for the July / August timeframe.

How's that a problem?

Almost all the athletes are from the northern hemisphere. I know that some have indoor sports, and some go to the southern hemisphere to train in the summer, but a lot only really compete in the northern hemisphere winter. 

[Barrister]

The problem with holding the winter Olympics in the Southern Hemisphere is that you would have to go for the July / August timeframe.

How's that a problem?

It would seriously mess with every athlete's training regime.  July/August is the offseason.  If it's an olympic year they start ramping up their training in the fall winter, competing in other major events December / January, with the ultimate goal to then peak in February atthe olympics.

[Liep]

I'm sure Kazakhstan could find the money, and it's inland so probably more stabile cold weather in the winter.

[alfred russel]

I'm sure Kazakhstan could find the money, and it's inland so probably more stabile cold weather in the winter.

Yeah, it probably has a great climate for the Olympics, great mountains, oil money...Unfortunately the fact it is Kazakhstan overrides everything. 

[Liep]

Kazakhstan can't be worse than China or Russia.

[Liep]

Also, Germany leads the medal race so far. They're just very good at luge, and it looks like they're getting another one in the luge relay.

[Tonitrus]

I'm sure Kazakhstan could find the money, and it's inland so probably more stabile cold weather in the winter.

Yeah, it probably has a great climate for the Olympics, great mountains, oil money...Unfortunately the fact it is Kazakhstan overrides everything. 

And the inevitable "Borat Olympics" jokes...

[Barrister]

Kazakhstan can't be worse than China or Russia.

Sure it can.  It's more like Belorussia, than Russia itself.  Both China and Russia at least have nicer facades of democracy than Kazakhstan.

[Tonitrus]

I'd say 90% of Americans have no idea what kind of government Kazakhstan has.

[Malthus]

I'm sure Kazakhstan could find the money, and it's inland so probably more stabile cold weather in the winter.

Yeah, it probably has a great climate for the Olympics, great mountains, oil money...Unfortunately the fact it is Kazakhstan overrides everything. 

And the inevitable "Borat Olympics" jokes...

Borat could be the mascot! 

[Liep]

I'd say 90% of Americans have no idea what kind of government Kazakhstan has.

Sultanate!

[Grey Fox]

The problem with holding the winter Olympics in the Southern Hemisphere is that you would have to go for the July / August timeframe.

How's that a problem?

For the same reason that the Summer Olympics of Rio will be held in Rio's Winter.

Only the 1956 Melbourne Olympics were actually held in Southern Hemisphere Summer.*

*Except the Equine events