While the athletes and fans all over the world are ready for the Sochi Winter Olympics, the same cannot be said about some of the facilities.
The Olympic competition began on Feb. 6 and international attention was drawn to unreadiness of the hosting city to meet its guests.
The first thing people notice in the streets of Sochi are Russians trying to finish constriction in time.
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
Heaps of snow are everywhere and you can even meet the repair works underfoot.
However, hotels are the big topic of discussion. The main complains are:
– no hotel rooms for everyone;
– no hot water;
– no wifi;
– no heat;
– no lightbulbs, TVs, lamps, chairs, curtains;
CNN booked 11 rooms in one @Sochi2014 media hotel five months ago. We have been here for a day and only one room is available. #cnnsochi
— Harry Reekie (@HarryCNN) February 4, 2014
This is the one hotel room @Sochi2014 have given us so far. Shambles. #cnnsochi pic.twitter.com/RTjEkmyan3 — Harry Reekie (@HarryCNN) February 4, 2014
Congrats to @Dave_Schwartz only media personality who’s arrived in Sochi with a hotel room that’s ready, with doorknob that doesn’t fall off — Ryan Stanzel (@rstanzel) February 4, 2014
Still waiting for “preparations” on hotel room to finish. Hoping they’re origami-folding toilet roll, rather than, say, putting the roof on. — Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) February 4, 2014
Ok, so my hotel doesn’t have a lobby yet.
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) 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
The reception of our hotel in #Sochi has no floor. But it does have this welcoming picture. pic.twitter.com/8isdoBuytl
— Kevin Bishop (@bishopk) February 4, 2014
The Russian’s double toilets have became a joke long before the start of the Olympics. The purpose of this invention is still unknown.
French biathlete Martin Fourcade couldn’t resist a wish to visit the toilet, which became a new sight of Sochi.
I needed time to find it but I do! Here we were ! #WC #share #lastyear #sochi @BBCSteveR pic.twitter.com/44Tdl9VYvP
— Martin Fourcade (@martinfkde) February 2, 2014
There is some good news for Sochi constructors:
Proof that single toilets do exist in Sochi. #cbcOlympics pic.twitter.com/QET3qlwuvn — Ken Wolff (@wolffken) January 29, 2014
There is even some disturbing news coming from Russia.
CREEPY — Russia’s deputy prime minister seems to suggest they are spying on visitors in the shower – http://t.co/WRrBjoV0Gd
— SeanFitz_Gerald (@SeanFitz_Gerald) February 6, 2014
On Feb.7 the world will see the opening ceremony of the most expensive Olympic Games in history. Even though there are a lot of complaints about Sochi, time will tell whether these Games are worth $50 billion.
For now visitors must stay away from the precious snow and enjoy the view of the Olympic Torch.