Russian Uniforms; Sochi Subsidies; Snow Cyclones Threaten Olympics

Russian Team Uniforms for Sochi Olympics Revealed

Expect to see the letters "RU" on the podium regularly once February's Winter Olympics get under way in Sochi.

Host nation Russia unveiled its Olympic team’s uniforms Thursday at a shopping center on Red Square, with a large red "RU" emblazoned on the chest of the team’s tracksuits, as well as on the bobble hats for mountain athletes.

For the opening ceremony, however, more subdued black and burgundy velvet blazers with a Russian crest are in favor.

Overall, the Russian uniforms appear to be toned down a notch from the red-and-white swirled costumes that made several publications’ picks for the worst of London 2012’s wear. Both Russia’s London and Sochi uniforms were produced by Russian clothing firm Bosco Sport.

Other Sochi 2014 garb has been rather more strident. Games volunteers will wear rainbow-colored tracksuits designed to represent Russia’s diversity, while the German team unveiled bright yellow-and-blue duffle coats in October.

Russia Greenlights Extra $50m in Sochi Olympic Subsidies

With less than six weeks to go until the start of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, the Russian cabinet approved almost $50 million in extra subsidies for the Games' local organizing committee on Wednesday.

No reason was given for the extra 1.6 billion ruble injection, which will be put towards the estimated $7 billion cost for hosting the Olympics themselves, rather than the vast infrastructure costs that have taken the Games’ total costs to around $50 billion.

Total government subsidies for the organizing committee now stand at 13.85 billion rubles ($420 million), although the organizing committee also draws revenue from sponsorship as well as contributions from state-owned companies.

The Olympics will run from February 7 through 23.

‘Snow Cyclones’ Could Threaten Sochi Olympics – Forecaster

After months of worrying whether Sochi will have enough snow to host February’s Winter Olympics, the real threat could come from a "snow cyclone," Russia’s top weather forecaster said Tuesday.

In February, a lack of snow forced freestyle skiing test events in the mountains above Sochi to be canceled, prompting fears that the subtropical Russian city might struggle for appropriately wintry weather at the February 7-23 Olympics.

"There will be enough snow. The question is whether a snow cyclone could emerge unexpectedly during the competitions and really make life difficult for two or three days," said Alexander Frolov, head of state weather agency Rosgidromet.

"But it’s necessary to have a calm attitude toward that," he added.

Frolov also spoke of "a second risk – that competitions could be delayed, postponed or canceled" because of poor visibility in cloudy weather, he said.

During the Olympics, between seven and 12 days will see snowfall in the mountains, with the remaining third of the Games likely to see sunshine with cloudy spells, Frolov said.

Published by exclusive arrangement with Around the Rings’ Sochi 2014 media partner RIA-Novosti.

For general comments or questions,click here.

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics isAroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.