The Winter Olympics aren't turning into a great showcase for Vladimir Putin's Russia - at least, not as viewed via Twitter, where Western journalists are trying to out-do each other with grungy hotel and tumbledown infrastructure pics.
The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics aren't turning into a great showcase for Vladimir Putin's Russia - at least, not as viewed via Twitter, where Western journalists are trying to out-do each other with grungy hotel and tumbledown infrastructure pics.
It seems stray dogs are plentiful (despite government exterminators targeting them with poison and traps), but light bulbs, hot water, internet and shower curtains are in short supply.
Even when things are spic and span, the construction priorities seem a little unconventional. A public toilet with a mirrored ceiling? Bling bling!
At least security is tight. An attempt to hijack a flight from Ukraine and divert it to Sochi was foiled (it's not clear what the hijacker was after, but presumably it wasn't shower curtains).
Below is a selection of the top tweets from the global press core who have descended on Sochi (and they have descended en masse. The Wall Street Journal alone has 16 correspondents in the small Russian city on the Black Sea coast. Old media aint quite dead yet).
Google got in on the sport, too, splashing what Maurcie Williamson might call "a big gay rainbow" across its home page, along with the Olympic charter of non-discrimination. A law signed by Putin in July bans pro-gay "propaganda". On the upside, Putin's government pardoned thousands of jailed dissidents, perhaps in a bid to regain the public relations upper hand.
Malfunction in Sochi as one snowflake doesn't expand during the opening ceremony pic.twitter.com/FJLxXPSqIc
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) February 7, 2014
#Sochi2014 because who doesn't want to use a public restroom with completely mirrored ceilings? thanks shayba arena! pic.twitter.com/dTcFWseIAu
— Steph Stricklen (@StephStricklen) February 6, 2014
And one more to the collection of Sochi hotels. pic.twitter.com/tTMr2jvNfJ
— Jessica Mutch TVNZ (@MutchJessica) February 6, 2014
And finally the bathroom in Sochi hotel. pic.twitter.com/favxa6w8EQ
— Jessica Mutch TVNZ (@MutchJessica) February 6, 2014
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
#Sochi2014 equip hauling prob solved with airport trolley found on side of-road thxs equip gods pic.twitter.com/6UgERKBtT4
— Jeff Bush (@JBJourneyer) February 7, 2014
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
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
People have asked me what surprised me the most here in Sochi. It's this. Without question ... it's ... THIS. pic.twitter.com/1jj05FNdCP
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) 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
Hotel moans over. Time to get reporting - @newscamerawoman setting up for live broadcast from @Sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/vJZN1IRlDW
— Kevin Bishop (@bishopk) February 6, 2014
Stray dogs sunning themselves near my hotel the other day. Worried about their fate. I have 1 word for them: Run! pic.twitter.com/fHVJe78o5m
— Jo-Ann Barnas (@JoAnnBarnas) February 2, 2014