The Olympic cauldron in Sochi was lit on Friday—ending a long and successful torch relay—and officially inaugurating the XXII Olympic Winter Games.

Millions of people are tuning in to watch the international athletes ski, skate, and tumble to the finish line. But Sochi conjures up more than sports to many viewers.

The most expensive Olympics to date are taking place amid steep security concerns and in the shadow of a widely condemned Russian law on homosexuality. President Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and British Prime Minister David Cameron begged off the opening ceremony this year, but none explained why. Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, attended, as did many other world leaders, especially from eastern and central Europe. (Read "Putin's Party" in National