Winter Olympics

Between 5 million and 7 million Circassians live around the world, descendants of the native tribes expelled from the Caucasus in the 1860s by Russian Imperial forces. The recent Winter Olympics in their ancestral capital of Sochi angered Circassians, but it also brought them together. They aim to get Russia to recognize a right of return for Circassians. It’s a long shot, but these are not people known for giving up easily.

Russia paid dearly to stage a world-class Olympics — $50 billion — and remake its image as a modern, efficient and friendly nation. But its Olympic success is quickly being forgotten and tarnished by Russia’s moves in Ukraine.Russia paid dearly to stage a world-class Olympics — $50 billion — and remake its image as a modern, efficient and friendly nation. But its Olympic success is quickly being forgotten and tarnished by Russia’s moves in Ukraine.

Russia is projecting a new image at these Olympics: a helpful, welcoming Russia. Suddenly police are friendlier, politicians meet with activists, people are recycling. It’s a version of Russia a lot of people would like to have, but it may not last beyond the games.

To get a taste of Sochi, without the hassle of traveling to Russia, step into New York’s Brighton Beach neighborhood. The Russian enclave in Brooklyn is where you’ll find the Olympic games on every available TV.

Arnold Van Bruggen has been visiting Sochi and the Northern Caucasus since 2007 to document the transformation of Sochi. He filmed and photographed his journeys as part of “The Sochi Project”. What he found was a region of contrasts where most residents are unaffected by the $50 billion spent on the Sochi Winter Olympics.