BY BREANN LENZMEIER
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Less than 48 hours from now the 2014 winter Olympics will be underway in Sochi, Russia.

For the next three weeks, the world’s eyes will be on Sochi. It will be a time when the greatest athletes put all their hard work and dedication on the line for a chance at gold.

Yes, the Olympics happen every other year. However, it is a time when athletes give everything they have for their country and want to be remembered as a part of history.

When I look back at the Olympics, there are moments that stick out in my mind and will forever be remembered as iconic.

From the “Miracle on Ice” to watching Nancy Kerrigan come back from a knee injury to win the silver medal; these are the moments that stick with me and make me proud to be cheering for the athletes that give their best in a chance for glory.

Some athletes work their whole lives for one opportunity to make it to the Olympics. They constantly train and prepare for the single opportunity to represent their country on one of the biggest stages throughout all of sports.

Yes, they make a choice to compete and do this, but do they not deserve our support when they are out giving everything they have to achieve success?

Watching the Olympics is watching history to me, and I am proud to say that I will be watching every moment I can of these winter Olympic games. While some may be missing their favorite primetime shows, others like me will be watching to see what history is made in Sochi.

The Olympics have always been a family event for me, and I remember watching them as a little kid with my parents and dreaming that I would compete in the Olympics one day. I admire the athletes that compete hard day in and day out to represent their country and to be a part of something greater than themselves.

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the 2014 Olympics and there are a lot of questions being asked. Is Sochi safe? How will LGBT athletes be treated? Will history be made? Who will attend the games representing their countries?

All are valid questions. Yes, there are concerns about what will happen, if anything will happen at all. Yes, security is a major concern for IOC in Sochi, but they are taking the necessary steps to protect all the athletes and those who attend the Olympic games.

In July, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that bans “gay propaganda” accessible to minors. Olympic athletes to leaders from around the world have asked for the repeal of these laws.

There have been protests, and activists and groups have asked for the repeal of the law. This is 2014, and people should be able to go wherever they want and feel comfortable.

Some of these athletes have given their whole lives for this one moment, and they should be respected and admired for what they are doing.

I don’t believe anyone else should be allowed to judge someone for who they are because, after all, we are all individuals who are unique and should be respected for who we are.

Will history be made? Absolutely. These Olympic games aren’t going to happen again. We need to take this opportunity to come together and cheer on the athletes that represent our countries.

Take a few moments, and search the Internet for the athletes that are competing. A lot of them have incredible stories of how they got to the Olympics. While it may seem like the Olympics will last a long time, they will be over before we know it. How do you want to remember them?

Do you want to remember them by actually watching the games and talking about them with your friends, classmates and family? Or do you want to remember them by not knowing what happened?

Yes, we all make  choices, and I’m not here to force you to watch the Olympics. My hope is that you will take the time to enjoy the Olympics, and be proud of the athletes that are representing your respective countries.

The countdown has been on since the conclusion of the 2012 summer Olympic games in London. The moment is here, and history will be made.

The world will be coming together for three weeks for an event that will be remembered for years to come.