To be honest, I am not too much into sport, with a particular dislike pointed towards professional sporting activities. Especially when these activities suggest attracting excessive funding. But things become worse once presented as a political issue.

Last week we were blessed with an unfathomed grace. Sochi is named the 2014 Olympic Games capital. Notably, however, one of the Russian websites, due to a misprint, promised to hold the Olympic Games in 2104, but let’s be merciful and put this mistake down to an all-encompassing euphoria.

All the implications surrounding this decision for having chosen Sochi as the Olympic capital are for our “kremlinologists” and criminologists to decide. Westerners, regardless of their highly prominent values, are very vulnerable to Russian money.

However high the officially declared or clandestine expenses, allowed for Sochi’s promotion in the International Olympic Committee are, they will for sure be paid off. A rouble spent on indulging and flattering Western officials will be compensated by 10 roubles stolen in Russia. That means the game is worth the candle.

Professional sport has always been associated with big money and tremendous corruption. We have every motive to expect Sochi to certainly excel at least in these areas. Make no mistake, this record is sure to be set long before the actual games. It is the bureaucrats and the contractors at the real estate development companies who are destined to fulfill this task.

A simple-minded commentator may regret about 10% of all funds allowed officially for the Olympiad being enough to revamp the road network of the Russia’s entire Southern region, as well as to mark up pensions and doles nationwide. How silly and naive contemplations these are! No one will ever agree to mend the country roads, raise pensions and benefits, along with building new schools and renovating hospitals – this is a mere waste of money. A project that does not promise stealing 80% of its budget will not be accepted by any institution, while a private contractor will not take it up, either. Minor projects bring no benefit. Massive bureaucracy and large business crave for outstanding projects. Had the Sochi’s candidacy failed at the elections, the bureaucrats would have found another way to steal. No, the problem is seated not in the corruption, but in the politics.

Big sport is not only about money, it is primarily a means of turning money knock-out into an act of patriotism. This is the true purpose all of the Olympic Games pursue these days, and not only in Russia, but worldwide. Back in the years of the Soviet era I was astonished to hear talks about sporting events’ grand mission of maintaining peace between peoples. If it does appear to be true in any possible way, that solely happens to be the relative mildness of nationalist manifestations – fewer people get killed, even if the degree of hate has by far gone beyond the limits. What really bothers is that the international competitions are the events which allow showing these emotions openly, simultaneously enjoying total approval, if the event is not ended in a fight on the grand stands. That is the reason why all of the extreme right organizations worldwide find it useful working inside the sport fan associations, where they ultimately pick their new addicts from. An international sporting event is not a substitute of war, it’s a preparatory activity.

Again, in this case, Sochi is a perfect place. This city is under the Krasnodarsky Territory jurisdiction, the latter being renowned for its prominent racist moods. In search for proof we can resort to Meskhetian Turks’ exodus, anti-Semite statements voiced by ex-governor “batka” Kondratenko, together with no less expressive contemplations of the acting governor Alexander Tkachev.

Crowds of elated people at the Sochi’s main square are certainly oblivious of these political and economic subcurrents, but that’s what makes them nothing but senseless extras. These extras, in addition, play the part of a perfect background and a cover for those solving their problems in quiet offices.

Meanwhile, the TV channels were notoriously rotating the same clip, bringing mediocre patterns of the Third Reich and Mussolini propaganda to mind. The images of various sporting events were generously flavored with depicting people who, either alone or in groups, were shouting “Russia, go give ‘em!” with distorted faces.

What Russia is supposed to give and who the serves as the receiver – the two things the customers are well aware of, but not the consumers. Patriotism is not bad at all, as long as it is somewhat filled with sense. There is nothing shameful about loving your own country and being proud of your country’s history. The country, however, is not just a woman who is always forgiven scandals and infidelity. Due to this love’s irrational character, not only does the one loving become a victim, but also those around him, who can not share in his feeling.

I once again flip the pages of Lenin’s “To the Russian national pride”. No other piece existing contains so precise a description of patriotism. Instead of blindly discussing tips “how to love your country”, Lenin is meticulously listing points concerning our Motherland at which people should rejoice, simultaneously revealing issues Russians must be ashamed of. Pushkin and Leo Tolstoy don’t yet eliminate such phenomena as police arbitrariness, the “Black Hundreds”pogroms, and corruption among bureaucrats.

A nation’s life is unfolding in front of us with all of its contradictions and drama. No embellishments, just crude figures and bare facts. Such love supposes constant work, aiming at amelioration and development of the society. The problem that nationalism encounters is not just about irrational, empty, and, as a matter of fact, irresponsible pride it evokes in people, it’s more about it demanding to be proud of things which, under different circumstances, could become a reason to become ashamed.

In other words, such love of country is only aiming at making this country worse, at encouraging further disorder that sheds shame on us, at our vices acquiring the status of virtues, while the latter gradually become the subject for extermination. The Sochi Olympiad will be a major step in this direction.

Actually, we still have 7 years till it all happens. A lot of things will take place both in Russia and worldwide in these years.

And who said 2014 Sochi Olympic Games will be held at all?

Boris Kagarlitsky is Director of the Institute of Globalization and Social Movements

July 12, 2007