2014 Sochi Olympics Blog

The other day someone asked me "what is the largest sporting event in the world?"  The first thing that came to mind was the World Cup and then the Super Bowl.  I commented that in this country the clear answer is the Super Bowl but worldwide I would have to say the World Cup.

After I answered the question I wondered how I could figure out what is the largest sporting event in the world.  After some research I determined it was basically impossible to factually state what is the largest so I decided to write a blog about 5 of the largest sporting events in the world.  I won't say top 5 because I'm not sure anyone has the data to support that kind of claim.

So in essence these are 5 of the largest sporting events as seen through my eyes.  I have a lot of sports knowledge and I have researched many sporting events outside of the US.  Based on my findings and experiences I have chose 5 events to represent the largest sporting events in the world.

A recent story shows that 2014 Winter Olympics costs in Sochi have eclipsed $51 billion.  But don’t worry.  You won’t need that much to enjoy them.  You don't need to take out any billion dollar loans to go to the Winter Games.  500 million should be just fine.  Only kidding.

Like anything else, your taste determines your cost and if you want luxury then you will have to pay the big bucks.  But we don’t want to focus on the lavish.  We are concerned with the average traveler.  And the average traveler does not want to spend tens of thousands of dollars on the Olympics.

Here is a list of key questions that can help you determine your Winter Olympic costs.

This week in Nice, France, the best skaters on the planet will compete in the 2012 ISU World Figure Skating Championships. With only two years until the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, both the skaters competing and the countries they represent are lining up their top skaters to establish pre-Olympic dominance. For Team USA, the stakes are high, having qualified only two athletes in the Men, Women, and Pairs events. The skaters must finish high enough in the competition to qualify a full roster of three skaters for next years critical pre-Olympic year Worlds in 2013.

With the 2014 Sochi Russia Olympics nearing, the Russian figure skaters are lined up in the Junior division and set to make their Senior debuts in 2013. The "wunderkids" as they are referred to include World Junior Champion Julia Lipnitskaia, who isn't competing in Nice because she isn't age eligible. Next year she, along with several other top Russian teens including Elizaveta Tuktamisheva, are set to take the international skating world by storm with their incredible flexibility and triple-triple jump combinations.

For skaters like US National Champion Ashley Wagner and former US Champion Alissa Czisny, both in their 20's, this presents a possible "now or never" approach to this year's Worlds. Neither have consistent triple-triples and each are nearing the end of long careers in the senior division. The same can be said for Italy's Carolina Kostner, now 25 and competing in her 10th Senior Worlds. If Wagner and Czisny can earn a total placement of 13, Team USA will get to send 3 athletes to London, Ontario for next years 2013 World Figure Skating Championships. However, if they don't, next years Worlds could be filled with so many top Russian contenders that making the podium could be next to impossible. Additionally, with US Junior Champion Gracie Gold set to enter the Seniors next year, either Czisny or Wagner could get shut out of competing on the US World team without a third spot available.
Picks: 1st: Asada, 2nd: Wagner, 3rd: Kostner (wild card: Akiko Suzuki)