The time has finally come. We’ve been waiting for this day for four years. The London 2012 Summer Olympics were great, but green grass is turning into frigid ice, which means one thing: The Winter Olympics are upon us.

The south Russian city of Sochi will be hosting the best athletes in the world this February, with the Opening Ceremony on February 7th. There have been several complaints about Sochi not being prepared to host the games, which frankly, I can’t disagree with. The run- down, gruesome hotels, the synthetic snow, and the hacking of tourists’ smartphones all contribute to Sochi’s unflattering reputation.

However, the most widely-known and feared entity in this year’s Olympic Games is the threat of possible terrorist attacks on the city. Despite the fact that nearly 100,000 security guards will be protecting both athletes and spectators in Sochi, the terrorism threat in the city is one of the most prevalent in Olympic history. The reason it’s mostly fans who are nervous about attending the games is the fact that terrorists have been feared to attack in public areas, such as public transportation and checkpoints outside of the event sites.

But those of us who are happily watching the games from our couches are focused on the sporting events. The events I am most excited about this year are speed skating, ice hockey, downhill skiing, and the bobsled races. The Jamaican Bobsled Team has qualified for the Games this year, and, being a huge Cool Runnings fan myself, I couldn’t be more excited. The ice hockey competitions this year are set to be one for the ages. The Russia-Canada-USA hockey rivalry with undoubtedly be neck-and-neck as it was four years ago, with Canada defeating the United States in the gold medal match in overtime.

Whatever the result, I’m just excited that it’s Olympic time. The events are all set to be nail biters, and there will certainly be a fair share of drama in this year’s competitions. We are obviously all concerned with the well-being of the spectators in Sochi, but the 2014 Olympic Games are exhilarating for everyone, whether you’re in Russia or in your home.