Russian Hospitality - Olympics Style

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304680904579366712107461956

Rooms without doorknobs, locks or heat, dysfunctional toilets, surprise early-morning fire alarms and a Welcome Wagon of stray dogs: These are the initial images of the 2014 Winter Olympics that foreign journalists have blasted around the world from their officially assigned hotels—and the wave of criticism has rankled Russian officials.

Dmitry Kozak, the deputy prime minister responsible for the Olympic preparations, seemed to reflect the view held among many Russian officials that some Western visitors are deliberately trying to sabotage Sochi's big debut out of bias against Russia. "We have surveillance video from the hotels that shows people turn on the shower, direct the nozzle at the wall and then leave the room for the whole day," he said. An aide then pulled a reporter away before Mr. Kozak could be questioned further on surveillance in hotel rooms. "We're doing a tour of the media center," the aide said.

I guess the NSA could learn a bit from these guys.

So, it appears Russia was unprepared for the volume of people coming to Sochi, but they made sure to get a few cameras into those hard to reach places.

 

I didn't know they had "Best Western" in Russia!

 

As long as you've got a sexy body, you've got nothing to hide!

 

So much for the assurances that everything would be ready on time.

Speaking of the NSA, did you hear about the Victoria Nuland audio - those Sochi snoops sure get around:

I heard the medals aren't the only thing that's gold in Sochi:



'Tis a shame. Sochi is a beautiful place and you know the Russian people want to host a spectacular Olympics. I plan on enjoying them provided that Little Bobby Costas spares us the political rants...

 

what makes you think so? Russia's prepared alright, and have you been to Sotchi to make this judgement?

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that pic is not Sotchi's, its the Ukraine's.

 

I'll pass. I'm not really into the shower exhibitionist thing.

 

you live in the US and still not accustomed to this?

 

It hasn't gotten that bad.... yet.

We're moving in that direction though.

 

And this from the New York Times:

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Russia Opens Sochi Games With Pageantry and Pride

By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN 3:16 PM ET

After seven years of building to the opening of the Winter Olympics, the message of Friday’s over-the-top ceremony was simply this: In a big way, Russia is back.

 

I was watching an opening ceremony in real time... spectacular. Good job, Vladimir.

 

If they did all of the rooms would be ready.

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I guess that excludes Russians.

 

Everyone knows why the occupants were running their water all day long before returning, right? In hopes it would be running clear for showers by the time they returned.

 

the point is the water in Sotchi was clear from the start and the 'rusty water' is nothing but a hoax on the part of West mass media who used a photo from the Ukraine to falsely present it as Sotchi's.

 

Really? Because I'm in Sochi right now and my water is brown as crap.

 

Lt's just accept the simple fact that accepted basics in this region are not up to western ideals. This might be the best they can do, so don't go there.

I would have expected however, that they could have managed to treat guests an visitors to some level of additional respect.

Does not present Russia in a bright light.

 

I didn't know Russian hotel workers were unionized.

 

and which hotel did you stop at?

 

their even better than 'West ideals' so just go there and see for yourself.

 

Are you out of your mind? They are a threat to the women in every country they go to...Which means of course you have never been out of your back yard.

 

Yet, because of my dissatisfaction of the perception....I have no possible desire to do so.

Strangely....many from this region wish to come here..........tells me something.

 

I think its obvious that the hotels weren't ready. But those were some awesome pictures of the opening. And its all about the games right?

 

Then you must be part of the media scam. Russia can't believe that they are still decades behind the rest of the world.

 

guess who form that perception and for what reason they do this on you?

 

only in publications by the Western media, actually the hotels are perfectly ready, in fact these are the best hotels in the World today.