625: Sochi 2014

BBC

My congratulations to the Russians for a stunning show in closing the 2014 Winter Olympic Games; what a superb display it was; the producers, performers and technicians have much to be proud of.

Being not what the French call sportif, I generally ignore athletics, football, rugby and pretty much all sports except F1 and snooker (!) and it was really only accidental that I watched the closing ceremony.  Of course I offer my compliments to all those who took part in the numerous sports; I am sure that they deserve them.

The music, ballet, the celebration of Russian literature and finally the great Russian circus tradition were wonderfully presented and performed - the ballet segment, Scheherazade, was so beautifully done that I had tears in my eyes.  The Russians have plenty to celebrate in these areas.

It is tragic however that I found it necessary to write here about the brutality of the Cossack security guards regarding their maltreatment of the very harmless Pussy Riot members; what a pity...

***********

I hope that there will be a video that I can attach to this post - I would love to see Scheherazade again.  Should such videos become available, I shall certainly add them to this post.

Until the next time

Post scriptum:

In his closing speech, the president of the International Olympic Committee, M. Bach said "Thank you to the volunteers. Through you, everybody with an open mind could see the face of a new Russia: efficient and friendly, patriotic and open to the world..." 

I suppose that many of those living in the Crimea and eastern Ukraine might believe this, but bearing in mind those Cossacks, I fear that a little more needs to be done.
 

622: Disgusting

Horrified I am, to read about the brutal treatment meted out to members of Pussy Riot, by Cossack security guards at Sochi.

I had always understood that the Cossacks were robust, but equally men of honour.  This, if the reports are true as they appear to be, is obviously no longer applicable.  And if there is some sort of hierarchy amongst the Cossacks, I expect an immediate statement disassociating the "order" from these dreadful people.

They are obviously scum: the lowest of the low.  After all it takes a really big man to beat up a girl.

'Stinking vermin' is the description that these people deserve - or perhaps 'Stalin' Putin's lap-dogs and arse-kissers?

If I were one of Britain's athletes competing in the Winter Olympic Games, I would feel distinctly uncomfortable.

Until the next time

619: Overdue

Posts on Jour après Jour are sadly rather rare these days, but today's report that two members of the rather harmless band Pussy Riot have been arrested in Sochi, reminded me that I meant to post something here that CM posted on her blog.

Where she found this I don't know, but I think it's excellent.  

(To enlarge, right-click, open in new window and then 
enlargement is possible - sorry I don't know how to do this on this page!)

Here's a link to the original article.

Until the next time.

Pussy Riot & Tsar Valdimir

Tsar takes the salute

Picture source

Today I received an invitation from AVAAZ to sign a petition in support of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot whose members have been quite outrageously sentenced to two years' imprisonment for a protest made in a church.

Apparently there have been proposals in the European Parliament (that oh so unimpressive body) that sanctions be applied to the Russian elite; not a bad idea they appear to be a pretty dubious lot one way and the other - BP, never averse to making money gave up the Russian scheme as a bad job and I suppose that there may well have been many others who have experienced that peculiar poker-faced obstructionism that seems to flourish there.

Anyway Tsar Valdimir has continued to support the appalling Bashar Assad offering weasel words about "a political settlement" which puts him beyond the pale as far as this writer is concerned.

Here's a link if you feel inclined to offer your support to Pussy Riot.

Enemies of the State: Pussy Riot

Picture Source

Until the next time