US Wins First Gold of Olympic Games in Sochi

VoA – News
Saturday 8th February, 2014

The United States has won the first gold medal of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Sage Kotsenburg won the inaugural men’s snowboard slopestyle event.

A short time later, Norway’s Marit Bjoergen won the women’s cross-country skiathlon gold. Norway has already earned three of the six medals awarded, taking silver in the snowboard event, and bronze in the skiathlon.

Medals will be awarded in five sports Saturday – the first medals of the 16-day competition.

The Games in Russia’s Black Sea resort city kicked off Friday with a glitzy opening ceremony featuring Russian music, ballet stars, acrobats and cosmonauts.

Brand new Fisht Olympic Stadium, which holds 40,000 people, hosted the ceremony, which painted a shining image of Russia.

Athletes from the more than 80 nations competing in Sochi filled the stadium. The lighting of the Olympic torch and fireworks lit the night sky to culminate the event.

More than 40 world leaders attended the ceremony, but U.S. President Barack Obama and some European Union leaders were absent. Russia has faced criticism of its law banning the spread of so-called “gay propaganda” to minors.

Security is tight in and around the Olympic Village, with authorities on guard for possible terrorist attacks. Security was also bolstered around the Kremlin in anticipation of possible Olympics-related protests.

The United States has issued a travel alert for all citizens heading to Russia, urging them to remain attentive in regards to personal security at all times. It also alerts Americans to be aware of the Russian law banning gay propaganda, calling it vague.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said it was unfair to single out the Sochi Games as facing a particular security threat. He said terror threats were made at other Olympics, including Sydney in 2000, Athens in 2004 and Salt Lake City in 2002.

Bach also said preparations for the Games were going “pretty smoothly,” but that the first few days of the Games usually have “a small hiccup here or there.”

Russian authorities have spent an estimated $2 billion to shore up security in advance of the Sochi Olympics. Islamic militants have threatened attacks, and analysts have singled out train stations and other areas where civilians congregate as possible targets.

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