Winter Games Conclude in Sochi

The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, come to an end today with the closing ceremony, set to begin  -- symbolically -- at 20:14 (8:14 p.m.) local time.  (See a preview of the proceedings, live, beginning at 8 a.m. PST, below.)

The host country has much to celebrate as the Games wrap. Russia ends as the overall champ, with 33 medals. The U.S. is second with 28.

What can we expect? Creative director Konstantin Ernst says the event will be less blockbuster, as was the goal with the opening ceremony, and more "art house." It will be orchestrated by Italian director Daniele Finzi Pasca.

The festivities include the official passing of the torch to 2018’s host, Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The ceremony will be broadcast on the West Coast at 8:30 p.m. Sunday. (Here's a version of our real-time coverage for mobile users.)

Via: LA Times

Continue Reading,....

The Media's Most Outrageous Olympic Outbursts: Ridiculing Republicans

Sports fans checking in on coverage of Team USA at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia might want to brace themselves for unexpected outbursts of liberal preaching from reporters covering the games.

Over the years the MRC has documented lefty reporters and writers using the games to celebrate socialist policies, bash expressions of patriotism and even work in jabs against Republicans. In the spirit of the games, the most outrageous journalists are competing with each other in three events for the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. Today's competition: The “We'll Find a Way to Ridicule Republicans Even in Our Olympic Coverage” Event. Click the Read More button to see who takes home the gold!

Day one results here.

Day two results here.

 The “We’ll Find a Way to Ridicule Republicans Even in Our Olympic Coverage” Event

 We Interrupt Your Sports Report to Remind You People Hate the Bush Administration (runner-up)

 “At the last minute Secretary of State Colin Powell canceled his trip to Athens. He had planned to attend tomorrow’s closing ceremony. Just hours before that happened Greek activists hung a huge banner on the Acropolis. It said, ‘Powell Killer Go Home.’”

— NBC’s Lester Holt on Today, August 8, 2004.

Via: Newsbusters

Continue Reading....