It’s like they’re back in the U.S.S.R. — athletes and fans staying in Sochi for the Winter Olympics say hotels are so shabby and bare-bones, they could pass for shanties from the Stalin era.
Hotel sinks spit toxic yellow water, toilets barely flush and half-built hotel lobbies have lured mangy packs of stray dogs, say visitors frustrated by cold and cramped conditions.
“My hotel has no water. If restored, the front desk says, “do not use on your face because it contains something very dangerous,” tweeted visitor Stacy St. Clair, along with a photo of the eerie glowing liquid.
“Went to buy water … got accosted by 3-legged dog,” another visitor griped.
Three out of nine hotels in Sochi’s “mountain complex,” where many media members are staying , are only partly built — some dirty with shoddy electricity and no heat, the sports blog Deadspin.com reports.
Players on Canada’s hockey team were even forced to sleep, shoulder to shoulder, on hotel beds so narrow they could pass for a prison inmate’s.
Vladimir Putin spent seven years and $51 billion to prepare for the world renowned winter games — but many of the hotels were scrambling to get their acts together just three days before the games begin, visitors said.
Stay dogs are common throughout Sochi.Getty ImagesIn some cases, tired construction workers were spotted sleeping on-site at half-built hotels — and even the plumbing wasn’t up to par, visitors griped.
“Please do not flush toilet paper… Put it in the bin provided,” bathroom signs proclaim.
Guests, including reporters covering the games, took to Twitter to gripe about third-world accommodations.
“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,” tweeted hockey reporter Ryan Stanzel.
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 Checkmark (@rstanzel) February 4, 2014
Some hotels featured broken elevators, unlit stairways and exposed electrical outlets. Many had no lamps or shower curtains, according to a post on the Canada.com.
In some cases, tired construction workers were spotted sleeping on-site at partially built hotels.
This is the one hotel room @Sochi2014 have given us so far. Shambles. #cnnsochipic.twitter.com/RTjEkmyan3
— Harry Reekie (@HarryESPN) February 4, 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 (@HarryESPN) 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
Miss you, hot water in my hotel. You were great.
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) February 4, 2014
Ok, so my hotel doesn't have a lobby yet.
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) February 4, 2014
For those of you asking, when there's no lobby in your hotel, you go to the owner's bedroom to check in. #Sochi2014
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) February 4, 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
