Sports House includes a shop selling red T-shirts reading "Russia in my heart" in English and RussianGETTY IMAGES
The feeling of Russian pride at the Pyeongchang Games is "unmistakable," as Sports House, a converted seafront wedding hall decked in all manner of Russian paraphernalia, is "serving as Russia’s social headquarters," according to Tariq Panja of the N.Y. TIMES. A giant nesting doll plastered onto a wall "identifies the entrance" to the house and a "flight of stairs leads into a main room filled with memorabilia evoking Russian Olympic success and culture." Guests can "grab tea from large samovars before viewing an exhibit of jerseys and medals from the country’s hockey successes, dating to the Soviet period when the Red Machine ruled." The nationalist fervor is "at odds with the demands issued" by the IOC, which "barred the country’s Olympic officials from attending, prohibited the official display of the country’s flag and uniforms, and refused the playing of its national anthem as punishment for a yearslong doping program." The IOC in a statement said the Russian Sports House “is a hospitality venue that is available to all sports fans to celebrate the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018." It is run by a "commercial third party, and the IOC has made the operator aware of the conduct guidelines" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/12). In N.Y., David Gauthier-Villars wrote Sports House coordinator Anna Dunaeva said, “It’s not a secret party. We’ve submitted our design to the IOC, and we’re ready to make changes if necessary.” One of Dunaeva's concerns is making sure "no fans put a Russian flag on the shoulders of a Russian athlete visiting the house." The house includes a shop selling red T-shirts reading "Russia in my heart," and an exhibit about "Russia’s bilateral relations with South Korea" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/12).
FASHION SHOW: In N.Y., Jason Gay wrote in the "underground but wildly important fashion show that is the Winter Games, the Russians may wind up being the most stylish athletes in Pyeongchang." Designs "I’ve seen from the Russian brand Zasport and Nike are impressively sharp, simple and -- what’s the word? Clean." Team USA got "solid reviews for its Ralph Lauren get-ups at Friday’s Opening Ceremony, but I’d put it on the busier side of things." Team OAR was "low-fi." The OAR athletes at the Opening Ceremony "wore plain gray jackets, jeans and gray scarfs." There "wasn’t a lot going on" and it was "unpretentious, easygoing, not trying too hard" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/11).