Russians fighting stereotypes with smiles

The perception that Russians are surly or severe is providing a challenge for organisers in Sochi. Russians are often stereotyped as having an unfriendly demenor and being suspicious of strangers. Al Jazeera's Rory Challands reports from Sochi.

[CryptoChanakya]

Lol in russia, the joke laughs at you.

[StarmanFR]

The girl at the begin is so cute!
I don't have a negative general view about Russians. Many times you hear negative things about Russians on holiday, but I've met super cool and friendly Russians when I was on vacation in Kemer. Very cool and open audience in the clubs there etc. Much of the Russians are indeed not very positive on gay right issues, but the part who beats Russian gays are just a very little minority of extremists.

[melanie.vallejo]

I find this video special because my great great grandmother’s name was Sofia (exactly how it’s spelled like the girl in the video) and my great great grandmother Sofia was also born in Russia. She had beautiful blue eyes, pale skin and blonde hair. I believe she was also tall, and my dad’s dad also came out super pale, blond hair and blue eyes and throughout my family we’re part Russian and Latino/a mix. I’m really tall myself, I’m light skin but with brown eyes. My dad came out tan like his mom (his mom is latina) but my dad also came out with hazel eyes because his dad had blue eyes and his mom has brown. So overtime we all looked more hispanic than Russian but my great great grandmother was born in Russia so that’s how it started mostly

[michaelfaglier]

Looks like it was very hard for her to smile

[OogaBooga]

In Russia you don't smile, we smile

[hori]

I won't fall for the western attack on the Russian image.

I'll be rooting for you guys in Hockey.

[bozolazic]

Never equate the peoples of a country to its rulers...(-_ -)

[ArmandoBellagio]

Yeah, perhaps it's a good thing, the guys at the end seemed a bit ridiculous. Student at beginning was nice.