Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Australia's Nicole Parks crashes out in the ladies moguls training run at The Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. Mike Egerton/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Poll: Will you support the Irish athletes at the Winter Olympics?

Are you in? Or are you not interested at all?

THE 2014 WINTER Olympic Games officially opened in Sochi last night.

The run up to the event has not been without controversy. Numerous protests against Russia’s hosting of the games have been held because of anti-gay laws introduced by Vladimir Putin.

Despite international outcry, the rules remain in place. And the Games must go on.

Five Irish athletes are taking part. Seamus O’Connor in the snowboarding. Seán Greenwood in the skeleton. Jan Rossiter in the cross-country skiing. And, finally, it’s alpine skiing for both Conor Lyne and Florence Bell.

So today, we’re wondering, whether you will watch and support the team in Sochi?


Poll Results:

Yes, I'll watch but just the Irish (839)
No, as a protest against human rights violations (678)
No, I've no interest (657)
Yes, I'll be tuning in for a lot of it (300)
I don't know yet (280)

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
59 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mac Mock
    Favourite Mac Mock
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 8:18 AM

    I’d kill for a Nobel peace prize

    81
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank McDonald
    Favourite Frank McDonald
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 8:27 AM

    Ah now Sinead, you have to learn the difference between Heads of State and Heads of Government!

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dennis Collins
    Favourite Dennis Collins
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 10:37 AM

    Ah now, Frank, you’ll have to learn that while you’re half right, so is Sinéad. There are some Heads of State (e.g. France and Lithuania) who attend these EU events instead of Heads of Government, depending on the particular country’s laws.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank McDonald
    Favourite Frank McDonald
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 12:25 PM

    So they should be referred to as “heads of state or government”. The Queen of England has never been at an EU summit. Our Head of State is Michael D Higgins and he hasn’t been to one either. My point is about accuracy

    5
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Donal O'Brien
    Favourite Donal O'Brien
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 4:54 PM

    I do recall her sitting next to Bertie Ahern at the knees-up following an eu summit.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek Richardson
    Favourite Derek Richardson
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 8:31 AM

    While their gesture is to be commended their economic policicies in other regions and countries are killing and starving other citizens of the world hypocrisy at it.s best

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ricky Spanish
    Favourite Ricky Spanish
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 10:03 AM

    Name an EU policy that actively kills non-EU citizens?

    Cos that would be quite a news story!

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek Richardson
    Favourite Derek Richardson
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 1:05 PM

    Austerity is a killer for many now when you find out find out your own identity I will converse with you not some psyeudnym

    3
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kugel Berg
    Favourite Kugel Berg
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 4:04 PM

    I don’t think anybody is starving to death…

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek Richardson
    Favourite Derek Richardson
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 5:06 PM

    Ivory tower comments lives on

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ricky Spanish
    Favourite Ricky Spanish
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 6:38 PM

    Governments spending within their means is murdering people?

    Hyperbole at best… in truth just a moronic rant that belongs better on a barstool.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek Richardson
    Favourite Derek Richardson
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 8:00 PM

    There not spending with in their means their spending everybody elses means to keep them in over inflated wage packets and if nobody is starving why are there soup kitchens popping up all over the place st vincent de paul.innundated with request cappuchin centre over ran with people looking hand outs and as for your hyperbole stick it where the sun dont shine as for bar room rhetoric very seldom frequent them so stick your assumption also where the sun dont shine

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mitch Cumstein
    Favourite Mitch Cumstein
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 9:02 AM

    How touching. Meanwhile they wage war on their own citizens. Hitting the blind and handicapped through austerity in their own backyard. You would think it was their own money being put to a good use. Oh no they’re far to clever for that they’ve always someone else’s money for good causes.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ricky Spanish
    Favourite Ricky Spanish
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 10:05 AM

    The EU wage war on the blind?

    Finally…. a war the French stand a chance of winning!

    21
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds