The New York Times journalist, David Segal, posted an extensive piece exposing Sochi as a series of “unfinished hotels, half finished stores and a mall where the only shop that is open and thriving is a Cinnabon” this week.
News media have not been short in coming forward about the nine hotels promised to media and the six that are the only ones open while the IOC has been encouraging Russia to politely get their proverbial together.
Segal suggests thinking of the hotels that are open as a “centrally planned, Soviet style dystopia” and “inspired by the Eastern Bloc – Bauhaus meets the Super 8.”
“This reporter woke his first night, at 3 in the morning, to find a man with a Scandinavian accent in his bedroom. This gentleman wanted to know why someone was sleeping in the suite he had been assigned to and for which he had been given a key.” David Segal, The New York Times
The words ‘wining journos’ (pun intended) and ‘precious media’ come to mind but it is PR 101 that if you want good PR then lead the media’s eyes to the best you’ve got, though maybe this is the best.
Let’s also remember that while the media do receive discounted accommodation it is still expensive with five star prices for three star hotels. The general public including athlete’s families have forked out a lot more and may be in for a surprise unless they have parked themselves on the international cruise ships that will dock in the Black Sea.
It is two days before the games officially begin and social media is filled with said ‘wining journos’ posting their plight from big name corporations including CNN, The Chicago Tribune and BBC.
Stacy St Clair posted this hilarious tweet today.
Then followed it up with this pic of ‘Putin Piss’. Thank god the vodka is pure.
Though if she drinks it there are signs in Sochi to the toilets.
Kevin Bishop was greeted by Putin himself, lucky Kevin. Never mind the missing floor.
This pic particularly cracks me up. Heater half way up the wall and electrical outlets in the middle of the bed head.
BBC Journalist Nick Hope posted these two pics on twitter of his media hotel experiences in Sochi.
Our own Natalie Peters arrived to her hotel to be greeted by this.
But wait there’s more. This guy has no curtain.
And well, this guy, he has no tap.
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Feature photo credit: Legomatics
It really is no surprise to me that Sochi is not ready. They had to build the ENTIRE MOUNTAIN RESORT!!! There was even the faint threat two years ago that the Olympics may come back to Vancouver as Sochi had missed several key deadlines…oh the hilarity that will ensue on Friday!!!
Some people of Sochi have no pride and do not care about this Olympic event. A great Olympic event requires the whole city to be proud and hence support the event. I suspect this happens when the social conditions for the lower class is poor. I guess these hotel won’t be finished anytime soon, the builders feel underpaid and do not care about what the world thinks.
Mason, you misunderstand the big picture. I spent 10 years in the former Soviet Union, and can assure you that the people of Sochi are very proud of these Games and care very much.
However… Regardless of their dismay over the negative press, it’s hard to un- do 70 years of centralized control. At the people-level, they have no ability to effect change as other cultures may.
They shrug, not because they don’t care, but because they’ve lived this scene every day of their lives and know that when Rubles change hands solutions appear. It’s not ideal, but that’s their life.