At the Winter Olympics here I was expecting more of the same.

Trips to protest zones, a failed drugs test every other day, an anti-gay rights protest on the other all interspersed with organisational chaos.

"You need to be careful you don't end up in a Gulag," an elderly relative warned me, revealing his Cold War nostalgia, when I explained my likely Olympics brief. This may have betrayed a distinctly outdated mindset but a naive part of me was indeed worried about how negative stories would be received.

But this worry has been neither valid nor necessary because our experiences so far have been overwhelmingly positive.

The build up to Sochi 2014 has been dogged by a myriad of concerns, including gay rights, but most have faded to obscurity since we arrived ©AFP/Getty Images




Yes, of course, there have been the less perfect moments. For us this has included occasional computer problems, distinctly average wifi, and confusion finding places in the Olympic Park.

But this really is nitpicking.

Like at London 2012 the volunteers have been a particular highlight. After minor problems in the opening days, they have found their feet and managed to be highly efficient but in a friendly, welcoming and enthusiastic fashion.

What's more, and for me this is absolutely crucial, they also have the initiative to think outside the box and resolve situations which are well beyond their immediate remit.

"My shift finished two hours ago," one volunteer exclaimed. "But I am not going to leave until I have fixed your internet."

Volunteers at Sochi 2014 have been helpful and efficient but also fun to be around ©ITG


When I attended the Asian Youth Games in Nanjing in August - my only other journalistic experience of a multi-sports event - the main stumbling block was a transport system that was overly complicated and unreliable. In Sochi it has been near-flawless.

The first time we waited for a bus it pulled up exactly as we arrived. "That won't happen again," it was agreed. It did, again and again, to the extent that, unless you choose to travel after about 2am, a three minute wait is as long as it gets. And that is no exaggeration.

But it is the security which I have been most impressed with. They have managed to create a system that, so far and grasping every piece of wood I can find, has been completely successful.

Yet they have done so in a way that is unobtrusive and stress free. You won't get anywhere without the correct accreditation, and nor should you, but if you are armed with the right laminated card you are limited to one metal detector and a brief body search. No heavily armed guards, no pressure to prove that every electronic device works correctly.

Compared with, for example, navigating JFK airport in New York, entering the Olympic Park is a walk in the park.

But despite all of this, much criticism has been voiced by our journalistic colleagues. An obsession with sub-standard media hotels, stray dogs and minor lighting malfunctions in the Opening Ceremony.

We have been guilty of this to some extent at insidethegames and yesterday we published a blog on "why a broken Ring matters in the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony" for example. But I like to think that generally we have minimised this nitpicking and accentuated the predominant positives.

For the thing I am determined not to forget is what a privilege it is to report on an Olympic Games.

Most people would give anything to be in our position. So what right do us journalists have to complain that our shower is not at the perfect temperature? Or that our telephone is not working in our room?

I don't want to sound like I am stereotyping but there is one country whose journalists seem particularly keen to paint a negative picture - and this was emphasised by the utter relish to push the "Flamelighter who posted a racist tweet about our President" story for all it was worth. And then push it further still...

For me the Opening Ceremony maybe lacked some of the warmth and humour of London 2012 - although as a Brit I  would say that - but it was spectacular, entertaining and interesting and played, as it should have, to Russia's strengths. As a former history student I particularly enjoyed the fact that, unlike Beijing 2008, it did not shy away from the murkier sections of Russia's illustrious past - and that it recognised the Soviet era.

In my opinion the failure of one Olympic Ring to light was a minor glitch which should not detract from a superb opening Ceremony ©Getty Images




Finally we come to the sport itself. The fact that it has taken me so long to get to sport illustrates in a way how low it has registered on our radar.

"You don't go to the Olympics as a journalist and watch sport" I was told, and given the sheer amount of work there is to do - be it Sochi 2014 related or concerning the vast amount of other stuff going on simply because the whole Olympic Movement is gathered in one place, I am beginning to understand why. 

But that does not mean I'm not having the time of my life.

And the sport we have seen has been dramatic, exciting and well worthy of an Olympic Games. Although the atmosphere in the Olympic Park seems a little muted - although once again I only have London 2012 to compare it with - you only had to witness the team figure skating last night to realise how much the Games and sporting success means to the Russian people.

Doubts over atmosphere were dispelled by the raucous reception for the victorious Russian figure-skating team ©Getty Images

So, it is still early stages but, toothpaste bomb rumours aside, I have not yet needed to prattle on about security fears, gay rights or all those other concerns which already seem to be fading away to obscurity. And the closest I have come to corruption is the many people who seem keener to help us if they receive one of our insidethegames pins in return... 

I hope that coming from a publication that has been strongly, and often correctly, critical of the build-up to these Games this praise wields slightly more gravitas.

Speaking last week, President Vladimir Putin described how winning the right to host the Games in Guatemala seven years ago gave "hope to millions of Russians and provided all of us with a sense of honour to deliver".

And so far Sochi is delivering, and delivering well.