Even though the Winter Olympics opening ceremony is happening Friday, members of the media have been tweeting non-stop about how Sochi is in no way prepared for surge of people who have been arriving to the Russian resort town.
A major problem appears to be a lack of rooms in general, despite most outlets having made reservations well in advance. CNN’s Harry Reekie tweeted that his network had booked 11 rooms months in advance. When they arrived, only one was ready or available at all. It’s condition wasn’t great either.
This is the one hotel room @Sochi2014 have given us so far. Shambles. #cnnsochi pic.twitter.com/RTjEkmyan3
— Harry Reekie (@HarryCNN) February 4, 2014
The Guardian’s Moscow correspondent Shaun Walker ran into a locked fire door when the elevator was broken and had to take the stairs to his floor. The National Post’s Bruce Arthur tweeted a picture of a woman painting the grass outside Fish Stadium green and lamented the lack of hot water.
Eh, everyone does that RT @RyskeldiSatke: Painting a grass in Sochi, Russian style. via @pavelsheremet pic.twitter.com/OgQzmiUwix
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) February 5, 2014
Miss you, hot water in my hotel. You were great. — Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) February 4, 2014
Stacy St. Clair live tweeted the whole ideal of questionable water in her hotel.
My hotel has no water. If restored, the front desk says, “do not use on your face because it contains something very dangerous.” #Sochi2014
— Stacy St. Clair (@StacyStClair) February 4, 2014
Water restored, sorta. On the bright side, I now know what very dangerous face water looks like. #Sochi #unfiltered pic.twitter.com/sQWM0vYtyz
— Stacy St. Clair (@StacyStClair) February 4, 2014
Also on the bright side: I just washed my face with Evian, like I’m a Kardashian or something.
— Stacy St. Clair (@StacyStClair) February 4, 2014
There were multiple tweets about doorknobs coming off in one’s hand and light fixtures crashing from the ceiling. Outside of just the hotel realm, it seems the city had other problems. The Detroit Free Press’ Jo-Ann Barnas shared a picture of a not-quite-so-finished promenade.
Watch your step @Sochi2014 — I’ve noticed on walkway and on sidewalks that not all man holes are always covered. pic.twitter.com/a5Nv4wu5iA
— Jo-Ann Barnas (@JoAnnBarnas) February 1, 2014
Plus, the minor detail that on top of this, they’re killing all the stray dogs and puppies, like these ones.
Meet the puppies of the Olympic ski jump venue. #SochiStrays pic.twitter.com/Pba8cwE7yf
— NYT Olympics (@SochiNYT) February 5, 2014
For shame, Russia. For shame.