Sochi Olympics are a mess: no toilet paper, brown water, and construction problems

February 5, 2014

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The Sochi Games begin on Thursday, and they will most likely look great on TV. They’ll probably be a good experience for the athletes. But the horror stories coming from the media descending upon the city have been plentiful.

Reporters have been sharing photos and first-hand accounts over the past few days that paint the Olympics as, putting it nicely, a less than completed work. Reporters have said most hotels are missing things ranging from light bulbs to wifi to toilet paper to hot water. Three of the nine mountain hotels haven’t been completed, according to Canada.com’s Bruce Arthur. Numerous reporters have talked about stray dogs being all over the area.

From the sounds of things, Sochi will be all ready in a month.

Unfortunately, they were supposed to be ready this week.

Well let’s take a look at this disaster in the making. Perhaps the best photo to come from Sochi was taken by Yahoo! Sports hockey writer Greg Wyshynski, who shared this picture cautioning people against putting toilet paper in the toilet:

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

But that’s just the beginning of the toilet problems in Sochi!

Nika Starshinova shared this photo of a toilet where the lid seems to have been assembled backwards:

Faster, higher, shittier. #Sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/mtVbYkBmbw

— Nika Starshinova (@NikaKozy) February 4, 2014

And what do you know, it looks like some lucky folks will be asked to take part in synchronized shi–ing!

Seeing double in the Gentlemen's Loo at the Olympic Biathlon Centre #Sochi pic.twitter.com/a1HoilU9zn

— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) January 20, 2014

Oh, and here’s the discolored water:

Tap water reached safe drinking levels! #finally pic.twitter.com/qlEbKC5YNt

— Nika Starshinova (@NikaKozy) February 4, 2014

Looks like all the construction still hasn’t quite been completed:

Moin, Countdown To #Sochi Will The City Be Ready? #Sochi2014 http://t.co/KrAjE9TGYG #SochiProblems have a nice day pic.twitter.com/AAHfG2PUws

— Metropole Ruhr (@das_Ruhrgebiet) February 5, 2014

And do you think the members of Canada’s Olympic hockey team, you know, athletes who are used to staying in five-star hotels on the road, will enjoy these tiny little beds?