If a tragedy happens at the Olympics, like a bomb, shooting, kidnapping (God forbid) do you hold the host country responsible for not prividing appropriate security?

I think the host country is responsible for security. Yes, each country may provide security for their athletes, but personal security guards cannot stop terrorists from putting bombs on public transportation or keep terrorists from public spaces.

To a reasonable extent, yes, I would hold the host country responsible for security.
But at the end of the day the terrorists are to be held responsible, whether or not we can prevent them from taking action or catch them afterwards.

Well, let’s see what happens first, shall we?

There is no way – no possible way on Earth – to have a society that has anything approaching “freedom”, open association, ability to travel at will and “perfect security”. We can’t even get perfect security at prisons, where there is a clear delineation between “potential and actual troublemakers” and those put in place to control them – and the troublemakers spend most of their time in iron cages. And who wants to see the Olympics turned into anything like a prison yard?

So, it depends.

If the “security” is just more rote, aggravating and ineffective “security theater” such as we see in airports every day, and if the breakdown in security / terror event was an easy, obvious and they-should-have-been-able-to-predict-that-and-stop-it act, then I’ll probably blame “breakdown in security”. On the other hand, if the security apparatus seems competent, thorough and committed to “real security” – without having to act like prison guards – then I’d probably give them high marks for effort and a wish for “better luck next time”. (And more preparedness, based on whatever the new event / threat turned out to be.)

The Russians are real dicks when it comes to security.
If they fail, it will be hard to fault them for not doing enough.

Personally I expect that nothing will happen to the athletes or venues directly. But I won’t be surprised that a bus or subway station is blown up during the games by some violent group.

100% security is obviously impossible. Twin towers, Atlanta Bomber Richard Jewel, Munich Olympics, Boston Marathon…and then some. All of these events had the best intel available and scumbags still pulled a fast one on us. The best thing the rest of us can do is to cheer on the athlete we want to grab the gold and pray these dirtbags are caught before they rain on our Olympic Parade!

Welcome back, @Cruiser.

But let’s not unfairly – and inaccurately – malign Richard Jewell for the Atlanta Olympics bombing, please. And let’s spell his name correctly!

It likely wouldn’t hurt for each athelete to be offered body guards by their native country’s government, but I still feel that the host country has the most responsibility to ensure that things go well. China did a great job with security during the Olympics held there.

Hello @CWOTUS thanks for the welcome and pointing out my error as it was Eric Rudolph who deserves the notoriety for that bomb and the subsequent manhunt to catch him.