We Awarded The World Cup To This Country?

Really FIFA? Really IOC?

You may have heard how critical I was of the decision when it was made in early December. One of the criticisms of the Russian bid was safety concerns. Russia is hosting two important world events in the next 8 years. How has this happened?

When you have events like this:

But Monday's bombing, which killed 35 people and wounded more than 150, highlighted the persistence of terror attacks in the Russian heartland. Terrorists have struck the capital twice in the past 10 months, breaking a relative lull in attacks there that had lasted for several years.

You're going to put the world's people in the line of fire? I'm not saying that there will be a terrorist attack or a suicide bombing during the games, I hope there isn't one. But why take the risk?

These games are a time where we take a break from the rivalries and the fighting to contest them on the fields, the tracks, the swimming pools. The games are a time of peace. It is up to the host nation to maintain the peace. We've seen the consequences of a lack of peace in the past, in Munich 1972. Who is to say something similar cannot happen in a country where these kinds of events occur regularly?

Oh, that's right...money in your pocket is what's important. Corruption in sport is the worst. I hate it. It's absolutely ridiculous that Russia got the 2018 World Cup when safety was the number one issue and Qatar got the 2022 World Cup which they may move to winter because of weather concerns. It's particularly ridiculous when they beat the likes of England:

Events like these really annoy me because they show a lack of attention. These type of things need to be prevented, not just in Russia, but through out the world. I know that you can just as easily walk into a US airport. May be there should be further securities to prevent these measures. Airport are high capita areas and easy targets as a result. I know flying is a hassle, but what's the cost of a human life?

Man And Monkeys

You've probably seen this.

More Travel Trouble

When Can We Fly Again?

Millions of people are stranded in Europe waiting to fly home, but the airlines are still stranded. However, it seems that a few airports will be allowed to open with limited traffic:

Grounded

European Airlines and Airports are growing frustrated with the continued air ban:

The flight bans came amid fears that the ash - a mixture of glass, sand and rock particles - can seriously damage aircraft engines. Airlines are estimated to be losing some £130m ($200m) a day.
The two airline bodies, ACI Europe and AEA, said: "The eruption of the Icelandic volcano is not an unprecedented event and the procedures applied in other parts of the world for volcanic eruptions do not appear to require the kind of restrictions that are presently being imposed in Europe."

A few airlines have done tests:

Germany's two biggest airlines, Lufthansa and Air Berlin, also said they had carried out test flights without apparent damage, as did Air France.

While the airlines are losing an obscene amount of money because of the flight bans, it's important to keep its passengers safe. Perhaps there should be an independent group that tests the skies. It's about time they started flying again.

New Security

People asked about the new security measures.