A few months ago, when word first got out about the crackdown on the LGBT community in Russia, there was a huge movement to revoke the Olympics from Sochi and move them to another country. I'm sure the thousands of people arriving this week, are wishing that actually happened. I'm sure it would have been difficult and arduous and completely impossible seeing as plans for the Olympics start years in advance, but it would have shown a solidarity to that community and proved that the IOC and the world as a whole won't stand for hate. However, it didn't happen. I'm sure some adjustments have been made and some "restrictions" loosened but the show must go on I suppose.
But back to the thousands that wished it happened. These thousands, including journalists, athletes, families of athletes, spectators and leaders are arriving in a country that's seemingly completely unprepared for an event of this size. Rumor has it the Russians have spent $51 million on the games but the state of their Olympic site is by no means reflecting that cost. After seeing a number of journalists on Twitter today, I have to admit, even if it was the job of a lifetime for me, I'm not sure I'd be staying in the country. In my head I know, I'd be high-tailing it back to the US.
Some of the things these athletes and journalists are reporting would be funny in any other context. It's comical to hear these calamaties while I'm safe and sound in my own city, but if I were there, I know for a fact I'd be far from laughing. You can read the best bits on the Bleacher Report, but so far journalists have complained about having unfinished rooms, no working doorknobs, having contractors asleep in their rooms when they arrived, no televisions in journalist or athlete rooms, no WiFi, no running water that may or may not be dangerous anyway, and a raw-sewage bathroom(I'm not sure I even want to know what that means). Of course, just in case you were wondering, I've heard that the workers most definitely had time to include photos of Vladimir Putin in most rooms, so there's that. Joanne Barnas even shared this photo which you just have to see to believe. Apparently some manholes are just coverless. That shouldn't be dangerous at all...
I know that the Olympics is supposed to be a time for community spirit and optimism, but I can't help but feel badly for the athletes who have been waiting for this moment their entire lives. They finally reach the pinnacle of their sports and they're told not to leave the Olympic Village because it's unsafe due to threats, but if they stay inside the village, there's no WiFi or television or safe computer access (and in some cases running water). If only we would have taken the initiative and moved them a few months ago, now the rest of the world is stuck trying to clean up their mess.
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