Going to the Olympics? State Dept. Issues Travel Warning for Sochi
Jan 10, 2014, 6:01 pm
#1
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Going to the Olympics? State Dept. Issues Travel Warning for Sochi
I would love to go to another Olympics but Sochi seems to be more risky than my trip to the Atlanta games after the bombing.
Then again, Atlanta didn't have a new anti-gay law, either.
An article from our news feed gave me pause:
U.S. Issues Travel Alert for Sochi Olympics
Then again, Atlanta didn't have a new anti-gay law, either.
An article from our news feed gave me pause:
U.S. Issues Travel Alert for Sochi Olympics
The U.S. State Department issued a travel alert on Friday warning U.S. citizens to remain vigilant when travelling to Sochi, Russia for the Winter Olympics.
The alert said that terrorists have called for attacks on the Olympics and reminded travelers that the quality and standards for medical care in the region “differ substantially from Western standards.”
The Caucasus Emirate, a Muslim separatist group viewed as a terrorist organization, has threatened to attack the Olympics and, in the past three months, three suicide bombings have occurred in Volgograd, a nearby city….
<SNIP>
The alert said that terrorists have called for attacks on the Olympics and reminded travelers that the quality and standards for medical care in the region “differ substantially from Western standards.”
The Caucasus Emirate, a Muslim separatist group viewed as a terrorist organization, has threatened to attack the Olympics and, in the past three months, three suicide bombings have occurred in Volgograd, a nearby city….
<SNIP>
Jan 10, 2014, 9:45 pm
#3
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As this concerns the 2014 Olympics site and travel to that area, please follow as the thread moves to the Russia forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.
Jan 10, 2014, 9:46 pm
#4
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The State Department tends to be overly cautious. On one side there is a much larger amount of potential terror groups in and around Russia than in other locales. On the other side, the Russian govt can be more aggressive in its investigations of potential threats and it's motivated by the potential of bad PR to do so.
As to Russian medical standards, it's true they differ in both good and bad ways.
As to Russian medical standards, it's true they differ in both good and bad ways.
Jan 10, 2014, 10:59 pm
#5
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Really?
Maybe the rates will come down and I will actually have a room vs a ship.
I could go but I hate crowds.
I do intend to visit and use the facilities when everyone is gone. Hopefully VV government will maintain the facilities, but I imagine a lot of it will end up being abandoned. Think Athens Olympics 2004
Maybe the rates will come down and I will actually have a room vs a ship.
I could go but I hate crowds.
I do intend to visit and use the facilities when everyone is gone. Hopefully VV government will maintain the facilities, but I imagine a lot of it will end up being abandoned. Think Athens Olympics 2004
Jan 20, 2014, 5:25 pm
#7
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Terrorists only need to succeed on one of their schemes. The risk is real. I really enjoyed the Vancouver Olympics but knew I would skip the Sochi games for a number of reasons, incl security.
Jan 21, 2014, 5:00 am
#8
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I guess for those few weeks, it would be unwise to be a brown person with a backpack or puffy coat.
Jan 30, 2014, 10:01 am
#9
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leavingthebest
I haven’t seen so many Police in Russia before visiting Sochi. They checked my documents for five times a day! And I couldn’t say that it annoyed me. May be first time in Russia I felt safe. But at the same time I did not plan to make frequent police checks part of my daily life. So, after I started to leave in a room my bag and camera police doesn’t check me more. To tell the truth people in Russia do not trust to police and very often emit negative energy on police officers. As a result the Russian police have become accustomed to this attitude and haven’t expects good from citizens. So if during you trip to Sochi you will contact with Police I recommend you to be very positive and friendly. More information you can see fo free in leavingthebest.com
