The Russian Winter Olympics are at the end of week two and things are heating up. And no, unfortunately it’s not New Zealand’s medal count, which is still sitting at zero - it’s the heat wave that’s scorching Sochi.
For an event that’s called the Winter Olympics perhaps the Summer Olympics would be more suited as spectators and workers were spotted topless sunbathing on the ski slopes; cross country skiers raced in sleeveless jerseys; melting snow caused competition delays while beaches below the mountain range were sprawling with activity.
Christoph Sumann, of the Austrian biathlon team, told the New York Times “you sit outside in a T-shirt and shorts — that’s not winter, you don’t know what to wear for the race”.
Sumann said he wore the thinnest T-shirt he could find under his racing uniform while a teammate wore nothing underneath.
“It’s absolutely too warm for me, I’m a winter guy.”
But it’s not just the weather that’s been warming up. Russian President Vladmir Putin seems to be trying to defrost critics who have slammed his government's anti-gay stance by hugging a gay Olympian.
Dutch speedskater Ireen Wust was the first openly gay athlete to win a medal and Putin embraced her achievements after she won the 3000 metre race.
"I got a cuddle from him, he congratulated me and asked if everything was OK in Russia . He was happy to see me, but then he had to leave again. But I cuddled him," ABC News reported.
Putin must have been preparing himself for the occasion, announcing just weeks before the Sochi Games commenced: “One can feel calm and at ease, just leave kids alone, please.”
Discrimination against gays at the Winter Olympic have been under spot light after a law was passed by Russia parliament against “homosexual propaganda” last summer.
It hasn't been all warm fuzzies for everyone at the Games this week, particularly for one unlucky Sochi worker who had both his legs broken when he was taken out by a bobsled. It’s still undetermined why and how the icemaker was on the track near the finish line, but official say the safety sirens went off. The worker was flown to hospital by helicopter and suffered concussion, reports CBS News.