The buildup to Friday’s Opening Ceremony focused primarily on Sochi’s lack of readiness, but with Saturday’s official start of competition, the "spotlight finally shifted to the athletes and their pursuit of medals," and with that, the Games "finally felt like a party," according to Blount & Scoggins of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. A group of Swedish fans at the cross-country skiing venue "gathered behind the grandstand to dance, sing and apply face paint." For the U.S.-Finland women's hockey game, a "crowd announced at 4,135 -- about 60 percent of capacity -- trickled in." But the fans there "created a lively atmosphere with vuvuzelas and thundersticks." Security around the Games "seems vigilant but not obtrusive" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/9). In DC, Dave Sheinin wrote after "so much talk of stray dogs, shower surveillance and toilet curiosities ... the attention turned, as it almost always does the day after the Opening Ceremonies, on the traditional first full day of competition, to the athletes and the games." After months of "warnings about potential terror attacks, and after days of pointed questions about Sochi’s readiness, there was comfort in the fact the first full day of competition went off without major glitches" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/9). In Moscow, Ivan Nechepurenko notes the "most talked-about protest" yesterday dealt with "swaying skiers rather than human rights or corruption scandals" (MOSCOW TIMES, 2/10).
IMPROVING MOOD IN SOCHI: NBC's Richard Engel reported the mood in Sochi "is improving" following the start of the Games. Engel: "There’s more focus on the competition, more focus on the athletes" ("Meet The Press," NBC, 2/9). CBS' Mark Phillips reported, "Sports has raised its head, and people are pretty relieved around here about that. The Games have been running smoothly. The fears of really tight security on the ground here have not materialized" ("Face The Nation," CBS, 2/9). In San Jose, Elliott Almond wrote under the header, "Calm Beginning Just What Sochi Needed" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 2/9). SPORTS ON EARTH's Will Leitch wrote under the header, "The Sochi Atmosphere Is More Relaxed Than Expected" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 2/7).
MOVING FORWARD: In L.A., David Wharton wrote under the header, "After A Rocky Few Days, Sochi Lurches Toward Functionality." Though "no magical transformation took place -- the dirt piles did not disappear overnight -- Sochi started becoming more functional." As practice began on the slopestyle course at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park last week, two snowboarders were injured, "prompting complaints that the course's jumps were too big." Officials "reacted quickly, making adjustments, and by the time U.S. rider Sage Kotsenburg won the gold medal Saturday, safety concerns had faded." Sochi's other venues over the weekend "drew mostly high marks from the athletes" (L.A. TIMES, 2/9).
SOCHI SHOPPERS: The AP's Beth Harris noted the official Olympic store, located in the Olympic Park near Fisht Stadium, "carries a variety of souvenirs." The wait to get in "stretched to 25 minutes at one point on Sunday, with a handful of people being let in at a time." Harris: "Surprisingly, the store didn't have a single Olympic pin for sale, unlike previous superstores that featured a wide variety of the souvenirs popular with collectors and traders" (AP, 2/9).
