Whether you have been counting down days or are starting to get annoyed with the endless stream of Olympic commercials, have no fear because it all begins today. The Olympic games will finally begin tonight in Sochi, Russia.

I’ve been gearing up for this day for a while. I love the games and all they stand for. But in recent weeks, all I’ve heard about is the political tension and other issues Americans disagree with. From terrorist bombers to dog killings to getting locked in a hotel, I’m pretty sure we’ve heard all the negative things Russia didn’t want us to know.

That being said, it’s time to really focus on the games and not the other stuff buzzing around the media.

Back in the day, the Olympics were held in Greece. City-states from across the country would come together to battle it out, but it was also meant to unify the country. Now countries around the world come together every four years to compete. They proudly walk out with their flag and represent their country to the best of their ability.

What we can expect this year is a powerhouse of competitors. Each country wants to outdo the others. Between the United States, China and England, it will be an exciting couple of weeks.

The first contests will be held in the biathlon, cross country skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboarding and speed skating. After that, everything else starts up. Fan favorites include figure skating, snowboarding and skiing.

Skier Lindsey Vonn, a previous Olympic medal winner, made headlines recently by choosing to sit out this year and fully recover from a knee injury. Snowboard idol Shaun White decided Wednesday to not compete in the slopestyle competition, citing his desire to focus on halfpipe. He also said the slope’s conditions weren’t ideal and could result in injuries. White is currently trying to become the first American man to earn gold at three consecutive Winter Olympics.

An athlete bowing out of the competitions isn’t something new. Every time the Olympics roll around – summer or winter – someone chooses to not compete, causing major speculation.

Personally, I know it’s going to be an interesting Olympic games. There’s so much hubbub about safety and living conditions that it’s hard to avoid any news about it. It’s very different than the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, which despite having an athlete pass away, didn’t have a huge, scandalous craze.

If Russia dropped the ball this time, that’s not for me to say, but it will be an intriguing two weeks.