TOW #19: "Winter Olympics in Sochi are offering summer temperatures, challenging conditions" by Dave Sheinin

According to Dave Sheinin, a Washington Post award-winning reporter, in his article, “Winter Olympics in Sochi are offering summer temperatures, challenging conditions,” snow has not been as plentiful in renowned cold Russia as has been on the eastern coast of the United States of America.  He wrote, “The high reached 61 degrees, which for comparison’s sake, was warmer than Monday’s forecast highs for Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Ala., and Myrtle Beach, S.C.”  Since, as he says, these are the winter and not the summer Olympics, the snow is inhibiting the competition.  The article, which helps interested Olympics viewers understand what’s going on in Sochi, such as why Jean-Philippe le Guellec of Canada ended up in 26th place, has the main purpose of showing how the lack of snow and the abundance of sunshine have impacted the winter games. The purpose is accomplished by Sheinin’s use of quotes to create a greater sense of credibility.  In order to appeal to ethos, Sheinin makes sure to include a lot of evidence as to the effect of the strange weather on the competition as well as quotes, almost all of which come after said evidence.  For example, Sheinin wrote about afforemented le Guellec, “Jean-Philippe le Guellec of Canada was leading the race when he crashed, breaking one of his skis. He dropped out of medal contention while waiting for a replacement and finished 26th.”  Here he shows evidence of how the weather has impacted the winter games.  A person who was seemingly about to win gold fell and had his dreams crushed because the course that he was on was too soft due to a lack of ice.  Sheinin then posts the athlete’s reaction.  le Guellec told the Associate Press, “Honestly, I want to punch a wall and hopefully break through it.”  Not only has the lack of cold weather caused numerous practice events to be cancelled, it has also caused the dreams of athletes to go down the tubes.  

Jean-Philippe le Guellec

http://www.canada.com/olympics/news