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The rich history of the Olympic Games can be traced back to 776 B.C. where they were originally staged on the ancient plains of Olympia. Throughout the past, the Olympics have brought nations together, creating a symbol of global equity and compromise. Starting on February 6th and running until February 23rd, a new chapter of the games will be born, in which athletes from 87 different countries will compete in the 22nd Winter Olympic Games.

Seven years ago it was decided that the games would be held in Sochi, Russia, beating out Pyeongchang, South Korea, and Salzburg, Austria. It is projected that Sochi will be one of the most expensive Olympics ever, with the estimated cost being a staggering $51 billion. To compare to a previous Olympic venue, the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China cost $44 billion.

Sochi will also host the warmest Winter Olympics ever, with a whopping average temperature of 42.8°F in the month of February. Additionally, it will be the first time that the games will be held in the Russian Federation since the downfall of the USSR in 1991.

However, many people are concerned with a variety of topics that surround the Olympics this year. The speculation of corruption in Russia is an issue for many, along with environmental, economic, and political issues. The three recent suicide bombings near Sochi and the safety of the LGBT athletes and spectators are also cause for concern.

To insure the safety of the athletes and spectators attending the Olympics, 40,000 law enforcement officials with the knowledge of a multitude of languages will be assigned to certain positions to prevent any sudden outbreaks of violence. In what is speculated to be a protest of Russia’s conduct towards LGBT people, President Obama, along with other world leaders, will not be attending the games. President Obama has also chosen gay athletes as part of the delegation to represent the United States at the opening and closing ceremonies.