the. one to tell the grandkids some fourteen minutes left to go before the twenty second of winter olympic games open in a show that organizers will say will be even more spectacular than the torch relay proceeding. welcome to our sox the winter olympics coverage here on r t international i'm rory sushi live in moscow in just a matter of minutes the opening ceremony of the twenty second the winter olympic games gets under way and it's estimated that billions will be tuning in to watch it

will begin at exactly twenty fourteen to symbolize the year and organizers are promising it'll be a show to remember so ahead of that we're handing over to our special studio. hello there and welcome to all so she when are counting down the minutes to the olympic opening ceremony. and i mean is there now a culmination of years worth of preparation and rehearsal there's a real feeling of excitement here not so great it'll all be happening just below us over our shoulder you can see the whole vista behind this dome buildings the fish the rain out if you can see it just lit up blue at the moment beautifully seating dozens of heads of state right now tens of thousands of spectators that's just a tiny fraction of how many people will be watching it's estimated three billion

viewers almost half the world's population may be tuning in tonight hoping for a huge show well we're hoping to keep your attention here though in the studio for the next few minutes at least until that ceremony starts and by all accounts it's going to be quite the show what will happen down there below it's tonight will have truly been a national effort in a very literal sense actually the olympic torch relay will and it's have picture and in about two hours time we've been tracking it internationally as you know from watching this it has traveled more than sixty five thousand kilometers to get here and that's just a half of it not every olympic torch gets to orbit the earth or dive into the world's deepest lake it's been a real huge to an epic journey the next olympic host going to be really hard pressed to much thought own way and we still don't even know how it will end only the official lighting ceremony will reveal that of course so what can we expect more of the new search most common story that's a tough one it is of course a tradition for the host country to reenact scenes from its history the brightest moments and sometimes the more somber scenes but i want to guess what we're going to see most. corresponding supposed to be you know i'm looking around to see one of

those sort of awesome and he is on standby for so let's see what we can get out of him wholeheartedly what have the city what do you know still some brains on that. good evening to you guys well pretty much sworn to secrecy i'm afraid the i mean ceremony is yet to begin so i can't give too much away but i can tell you that the forty thousand or so. spectators who are inside the stadium behind you the fish stadium are going to be treated to a high tech pyrotechnic display is going to be an expertly choreographed condensed journey through russian history there are going to be performances from bullring dancers from. from russian. as well and there will of course be spectacular fireworks are going to conclude with a fantastic spectacle the fireworks will be taking off from the roof of the stadium behind you but just a word of warning there will be sporadic fireworks going on throughout the course

of the ceremony as well and there will be audience participation too because every audience member has been given an athlete which they have to hold up a specific moment the light will go on. a make rather expect a call for the of course we're going to see the emergence of the athletes the games are really all about the athletes there are three thousand of them competing from eighteen nations and the delegations are going to draw all the uniquely for their. from around in the center of the stadium rather than traditionally from the side of the stadium and it concludes of course with the lighting of the olympic cauldron it's the moment the defines any opening ceremony in some respects it defines any games and i can tell you that the identity of the person who will be lighting that cauldron is a closely guarded secret so. i was just going to give them a little hint as to who might be having the honor of lighting. it

one of the best kept secrets around these games there have been rumors. on the internet that have been quickly dismissed by organizers we simply. don't know who that is going to be at the moment it is going to be the climax of an incredible journey for the olympic torch relay you've touched on it that i say when it arrives in the fish stadium when the cauldron is there that's the moment that will define this site. in some respects it will define the games we all remember muhammad ali of course in one thousand nine hundred ninety six it really can be a special a memorable moment we don't know who it is but as i say it's the climax of a journey that's already been quite an incredible one for even pick started in moscow in october since then travelled sixty five thousand kilometers around the world's largest country it's been carried by fourteen thousand volunteers he's been to the bottom of the walled deepest lake. that's going to the top of europe's highest peak mountain it's been to the north pole and it's even before space cool and cool the

international space station organizers say that. for a big mission accomplished for the olympic torch relay. it's of course the loneliest and biggest culturally in time in history so it's been a huge logistical effort to make this happen in wintertime but it's been a fantastic journey and i mean every dream we had before we started has really come through so it's it's been an amazing journey really showing the first the first of everybody. what has been an incredible journey it's been a spectacle it's been traveling around russia now for five months but we know what just ninety minutes away. away from the conclusion of that journey. thank you paul great to hear from you as you talk. and if anyone

if we get to. course that was. in the lower class. that's worth mentioning that a number of the events of course have already begun here and absolutely destroy a very small. almost three thousand athletes taking a lot of sports going through some extra events this year that's right and we've been keeping up with various athletes. see how they found the facilities so far please so sponsor been overwhelmingly positive tests to remind you the actual events will take place in both the lower class upper class and the athletes and bring the house according as well most staying in the mountain resort portion of. the visitor. andrew to me what are you saying so far very briefly here take care sir i truly i came simply taking. well to be honest it's been very positive i have to say that when they're talking about

venues they have been positive i can hear you guessed they have been very positive to beat us that year and a half because a lot of these studies beholding international test events has been some concern i have to say over the last couple of days about the design of the snowboarding slike style calls because there were a couple of high jump sound a couple of competitors had to pull out because of injury but many people are saying that this is just part and parcel of being professional athlete and part of the pitfalls when you come to the lympics for some adjustments have been might not cool but overall generally speaking there is very much a positive vibe here and i was able to catch up with a couple of american athletes. who are still fresh so good even riding every day. like they don't have this much excess. so easily. right up there. right in the sun every day. so yeah. yeah i think the

russians are very enthusiastic about sport and about the olympics so i expect them to play great hosts of the world and so far what i've seen has been very impressive and i can't wait to get down to the venues and see the called again. how daughters were staying in many of the athletes being very happy about where they've been. studying up in the athletes' village up in the mountains around two thousand staying up here and they are staying in very nice sort of alpine style chalets and the pictures they've been putting on twitch showed you simply fantastic to deal it cannot be recommend having a look at those if you get a chance. and how much colder is it out there in the mountain cluster compared to down here we are. full of. two days now and it it is obviously a big who noticed i'm standing here without

a hat on this just below zero and even today when the sun came out there's no need for a jacket you're able to walk around this result. what are you be really and enjoying a bit of sunshine i've noticed the weather forecast is going to tide over the could be but if snow over the next few days but to give you an indication that night one is to minus three during the day it is around zero. or. crossing back to swallow once the ceremony is over thanks. but when you look out behind us here behind our backs there's a feeling of almost unnatural calm we do hear that helicopter circling over the coastal cluster where the opening ceremony is just about every sense of nervousness right now is to get it all on the way and make it a big success is what i've been told so far we have one more person a very special person i would say to speak to before the ceremony began someone who

is no stranger to the olympics twice in society kristie of a good chimera can figure skater olympic gold medalist two of them so games this isn't the first time you watch you working outside to be in lots of interviews and me for the last couple of hours and frys have a minute i have to say you're one of my childhood heroes thank you how are you finding sochi there's so much going on and so much gossip about what's happening here. if the city is ready what do you have to say. i have to say that my experience has been very positive so far out great accommodations where i am and i had a chance to walk around the olympic park in the venues are absolutely beautiful and i'm excited and the skating got started last night and it went really well i think there's been a lot of little controversy around these games through heavily polluted zones the city says don't do it it's not the problem but it's the platform for the us leagues to show to show what you stand going to. mean it's tough i mean everyone has their view this and you know we might not agree with all of them but like you said it is

about the athletes and they've worked so hard to be here and you know want to come in and compete under a friendly circumstances then and do the best they can so you know hopefully the athletes are able to do that and it's one thing for us the spectators the tourists to enjoy what's happening here what's it like for the athletes i mean how much stress are they under right now there's quite a bit of stress you know there's a lot of excitement too though you know they're excited of prime their uniforms their represent their countries it's a huge honor and they work so hard like you said and now is their time to really shine and show the world what they have so. you know there's a lot of pressure but at same time i think you're just itching to get out there and compete the next couple weeks we're going to want to connect all of us as well with the big stars like you got great just running on facebook you know going to people of your caliber coming up just to avoid viewers to get their questions right i want to follow want you for my fear is coming to us we've got a question from

a cousin on ray i wanted to ask what do you think is the role of the olympics in a world filled with poverty disease and wars and so much negativity while these start with the easy one. you know i mean i think from the beginning melafix has you know standards and what they represented in this the world coming together and. camaraderie and. it's sportsmanship and so you know hopefully that game continue to . represent what our world is about today you know the five continents coming together and being as one i just want to go one more quick one in here from one of our fans on facebook they're all she wants to know what your thoughts are on specifically the u.s. figure skating team. excited about the u.s. figure skating team that i think the biggest chance for a gold is in the ice dance competition which is traditional for our country and meryl davis and charlie whites are world champions and we're hoping for them to

bring home the gold christine thanks so much for her mysterious kristi yamaguchi american figure skater limpid gold medalist. all the notes coming up soon fourteen minutes prospects go you should commence. the g. twenty four jean-paul was really the coach in that game exhilarating winter sports and all he needs here to join me and you see no way i'm a criminal and i'm the worst of all here's to you for sochi twenty four will tell you. all the. of course that was a. main headquarters for the sochi twenty fourteen winter olympics so we'll be seeing them again very very soon here with all of the international there in the meantime though the u.s. gives the world a well rather unintentional glimpse at its plans for ukraine this is

a leaked phone conversation between senior diplomats leaves washington rather red face to that story just off the park. with the economic downturn in the final months. and the rest. will be if we. want to come and watch. the face of.

pleasure to have you with us here on t.v. today i'm sure. thanks for joining us here on r.t. international law resewn back to sochi in the next hour for a new sort of the continuation of international special winter olympics coverage for now though here on the program the e.u. has refused to comment on the role that washington is apparently playing in ukraine's very own game of thrones a leaked phone conversation between top u.s. officials has exposed the inner workings of the state department so that would be

great i think to blue this thing and have the u.n. help glue it and you know the e.u. well in the intercepted phone call u.s. assistant secretary of state victoria nuland draws a full roadmap of how a new ukrainian government should be organized. more important is the explanation from new york but what you hear during this four minute conversation is basically two top u.s. officials strategizing about how to for me cranes new government it sounds like they're playing a game of chess with the opposition leaders as the pieces on that chess board they're trying to determine which opposition leader has the best economic and governing experience to work inside ukraine's new government and which opposition leaders should remain on the outside it's a bit shocking to actually hear i had to listen to it a few times to really grasp the fact that there are strategizing on how to put

together the government of another country instead of paraphrasing everything let let's let our viewers actually take a listen for themselves. the piece was obviously that complicated electronics you're. going to miss deputy prime minister and you've seen some of our notes on the troubles in the marriage right now so we're trying to get a read really start work here on the stuff i'm glad you sort of put it on the spot on where he fits in the scenario so i don't think leetch should go into the government i don't think it's necessary i don't think it's a good idea in terms of going into the government just let him sort of stay out in doofus judical homework and stuff i think he is the guy who's got the economic experience the governing experience he's the he's the guy you know what he needs his cleats in tiny book on the outside he needs to be talking to them four times a week well clearly this is a highly embarrassing situation for the united states particularly because we've been here u.s.

officials insist for so long that they're not involving themselves in into ukraine's internal circumstance. for the for the spokesperson for the for the u.s. state department she had a pretty difficult day on thursday jen psaki was put in the hot seat by journalists one after another reporters kept asking her why u.s. officials are interfering in ukraine's internal problems at one point corresponded said point blank that the leaks converses show was she's attempting to construct a new government in a sovereign country and actually bring officials in from the un to seal the deal one thing u.s. officials had not spin their way out of it is the profanity and dismissive tone victoria nuland used when referring to the european union and its involvement in ukraine for that an apology was issued she's been in close contact with a representative ashton also let me convey that she has been in contact with the

e.u. counterparts and and of course has apologized but. for these reported comments of course you're not confirming because you're accurate under snow going to speak. to a private diplomatic conversation but i'm obviously speaking to the content of the reports. misaki also tried to make somewhat of a joke when she was in damage control mode when she was referring to the use of profanity when it came to victoria nuland the assistant secretary of state let's take a listen you may know the story of how she lived on the russian boat for about eight months when she was twenty three in she learned how to perfect perhaps certain words in a couple of languages so perhaps it speaks to that more than a pervasive viewpoint you know suggesting that she is a predisposition against russian no i was suggesting that she learned russian curse words and curse words on that isn't. she i was making an error learning the first

words on a fishing boat there you see a us folks person trying to make a joke out of a situation that is quite scandalous quite embarrassing not sure of any high official i officials in ukraine are laughing at this moment after their hearing this leaked conversation on you tube about you know the united states strategizing on how to build a new government in a sovereign country oh well let's get some more now from susan lindauer a journalist and he will activist joining us live here on all of the international gosh what a mistake that america there we have some of that was being used by the assistant secretary of state i was we were all asking you who sues the ukrainian government let's just get down to it here they've been engaged in very very tough talks with the opposition the question i must ask you is who is actually in control of the decision making process in that country. oh i would say the control is not in that country i think the control is in washington and i think that this this is

a devastating revelation and a very important revelation because it shows that washington is not only manipulating but washington is dictating who shall be in the government and they have taken the power away from the people this is you know in the in the in the in the the us media would like to portray the ukrainian revolt as a populist uprising of peaceful protesters who've had enough of the cure the current ukrainian president and they choose to move towards the west what we're seeing is that this is orchestrated by washington and washington has been manipulating this the whole time from behind the scenes we know that washington is providing at least ten million dollars every month and some say twenty million dollars every month to the ukrainian opposition and you are you turn you're talking

about tens of millions or tens of millions of dollars being funneled into of ukraine from washington d.c. do you think it's wise susan for the u.s. to undermine the political power of the e.u. at this point. oh it goes even worse than that the united states has parked a warship off the coast of ukraine which is providing tactical support and intelligence to the ultra nationalist groups now ultra nationalist is a very nice word for fascist these are neo nazis chechen terrorists and fascists and if they were coming into the streets of washington d.c. there would be and there would there would be horror among the elected leadership of the country i would say that ukraine's chosen government has a has an obligation to protect the people and that in fact what this revelation of washington's extreme and meddling to the point of interfering with sovereign rights of the ukrainian people to live the in peace without violent demonstrations

breaking down their shops their shop doors terrorizing their public this has undermined this revelation i think is devastating to the blows apart susan losers' working on this sort of terms here but you don't want to describe some of the protesters or the rod. you saw i thought in the west there were just talking about freedom fighter. yes indeed that's how that is the euphemism that we use but what we're seeing is that the types of individuals who nuland is raising up and they are hand picking these people that's why nuland newlands statement is is so offensive. but it's also honest you know if there is now transparency in this process and i think that all of europe and. should be backpedaling away from supporting the i think i think. i'm going way out in the way to church or

a new. ball most some are calling it on the telephone here i think this is the last we're going to hear a very susan lindauer journalist and you will activist joining us live here in the international thank you very much for that. well ahead here on our three international the one and only larry king you say for some straight talk on what's shaping today's politics. at the tender age of ten facebook has by any estimation truly changed the world facebook also has demonstrated it could be used as a weapon for political change and the social network they showed itself to be a smart investment on the downside to their transparency issues and whether they can survive another decade. our guests should know that we too can precedented measures to ensure their safety is but it's about this will not get in the way of their comfort for you i can say for sure that they

will and even newly sold. it will feel welcome or put us where they needed to explore such a residence are very hospitable people. with creating sustainable operations focused on profit making him and what you are advocating for my term self-interest sense of that is what you're talking about and since has always been the case and we have conscious businesses for hundreds of years without using the label. that i think was what got capitalism to who was this notion that economists brought to it which was the idea of profit maximizing. president obama says the u.s. immigration system is broken kind of the fake just acclaimed actor producer

director and social activist edward james olmos just here to tell us what he'd like to see from the president congress as they tend to limit gratian reform plus all of the sochi olympics safe we'll have security assessments from russia's ambassador to the u.s. and a high ranking congressman just back from russia. all next on politicking. i. love the politicking on larry king and we start the show talking about immigration joining us here in the studio is my friend the acclaimed actor producer director social activist edward james olmos big story in tuesday's washington post new momentum in tongues for a broad overhaul of border control laws demanding that president obama haul

deportation of millions of american young people the white house is consistently said that obama cannot legally expand the effort what do you think of all this. where in a dogma or it's impossible to move forward. this has become a political issue to gain votes on both sides and i got to tell you this is really what the issue becomes whenever humanity's place behind politics we have a big issue and the issue is that a lot of children a lot of families who have come here for years been here for decades are getting separated more than ever in the history of this country under any president we're getting shipped they're sending people back now that should make a lot of people happy and i'm sure a lot of people to watch your interest and that's good that's good they should have been here the problem is none of us should have been here if that's the case we all

immigrated here if you all come on eddie don't start that. when do you stop that when you tell the native american indians excuse us for taking over the entire situation here never no that's old news we're talking about today you want amnesty for all i would like to see something done immediately the humanistic aspect of what we're talking about the separation of families the inconsistency why are they coming here larry out of a need that coming here to get rich the coming here to survive you have water on one side and you have no water over here they're going to go where the water is and that's the simple direct are you saying the obama administration is not an advocate of of ending all this the stupidity as you call it on the immigration issue you can go bomb has been bad on your side. my side is not side it's humanistic how do you assess obama assess him as being someone that has spoken very clearly on issues

that are good for him and his party and i got to say the democrats are very pro your side well they're prone respects of trying to make things happen but guess what they haven't been able to and the reason is because of the separation of the different parties in this country why are you blaming obama because under his watch if the buck stops with him under his watch more people have been deported now than they've ever been deported in the history of this country but he's advocating reform he wasn't specific but he's advocating reform of the whole immigration situation well is he strong enough to make it go through when he won easily is what do you want him to do honestly logically honestly he would have to sit down with everybody on both sides and work this thing through no one point the senate had a bill that they pushed through an idea and of course it was stopped in the house and then we've also had a situation where today there's a bill that's coming out that has come.