And the first event in the adjunct "Clusterf*** Sochi Winter Olympics" has started:

[Are_grits_groceries]

SOCHI, Russia (AP) -- The IOC is urging Russian Olympic organizers to move quickly to resolve the issue of accommodations that are not ready for accredited media personnel in the mountains outside Sochi.

According to the Sochi organizing committee, only six of the nine media hotels in the mountain area are fully operational. Some media have arrived and found they had no place to stay, and thousands of journalists are expected to arrive Monday.

The matter was being examined Sunday at a meeting of the International Olympic Committee executive board. IOC President Thomas Bach says ''there are still some issues to be solved as always just before the games.''

He says ''we are in contact with the organizing committee and we hope that the situation will be solved in the next couple of days.''
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ioc-urging-sochi-sort-hotel-080839681--spt.html

If the IOC was any more corrupts and stupid they could be an arm of the GOP.

[randome]

1. Why is this a 'clusterfuck'?

Not every city is fully prepared for an influx of tens of thousands of visitors, no matter how much lead time they've been given. I'd hazard a guess and say that this has been the 'norm' for most Olympic venues.

Now if only Mitt Romney was in charge...
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Precision and concision. That's the game.[/center][/font][hr]

[Are_grits_groceries]

2. Seriously?

This is the media. They have to have their credentials in to cover the Olympics. They knew how many reporters and such were coming. They also knew they were coming before the opening.

This not some unexpected mass of people that they undercounted.

[66 dmhlt]

4. Sochi was awarded the Olympic bid in July, 2007 ...

Seven years seems like it should be long enough to put up a few hotels.

[DrDan]

3. the air conditioning, tv and kitchenware were not working

no a/c at the Winter Olympics . . . heaven help the media.


but now:

''My room now is one of the best I ever had at Olympics. Perfectly equipped, nice and friendly service and a superb breakfast,'' Reuter said. ''I really feel safe and comfortable. I just wonder what happens to all the people who arrive in the next day?''

perhaps the OP is a bit overstated?

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. Perhaps the statement you posted

doesn't address the whole situation. Reuters isn't nearly the whole contingent.

In addition, if the IOC is publicly looking into it something is amiss whether it's overstated or not. The IOC would rather eat ground glass than admit any problems. This is in plain view however.

[DrDan]

7. here is a broader statement . . .

Organizers said in a statement Saturday that media who arrive to find an incomplete room will be given new accommodation, some with an upgrade.

''Within the three remaining hotels, the rooms are currently going through the final testing process and check of their services,'' the organizing committee said. ''At the end of the testing process guests will then be accommodated in the hotels they initially booked.''



Also, Reuter's complaint was from the 19th - nearly two weeks ago.

Sounds like work is underway to correct the problems.

[polly7]

6. I remember all the naysayers for the Vancouver Olympics.

I think all hosts go through it, then scurry to make things right ... and usually things turn out ok. I love the winter Olympics and watching all of those who've worked all their lives to achieve something great ... but am beyond sad about Russia's homophobia and intolerance. My biggest hope is that Russia is greatly shamed worldwide in that respect, and all this attention does some good towards helping overturn their barbaric anti-gay laws and sentiment when the cameras aren't on after it's all over.

[DrDan]

8. me also - a bigger fan than of the Summer Olympics.

Sounds like corrections are underway. That particular reporter made his complaint on the 19th - nearly two weeks ago.

[Are_grits_groceries]

9. And this was also a statement in the report in the OP:

Others have also been turned away this week, including at some of the hotels that organizers said Saturday are ''complete.''

The Organizers would also rather eat ground glass rather than admitting a problem.
They had seven years to work on this.
They put so much money into security that there may have been scrimping in other areas. This does not even address the money lost to corruption.

For the record, I hope the athletes have a great Olympics and desperately hope their are no major security breaches. That said, I am not giving Putin any breaks at all. He doesn't deserve any for a myriad of reasons. Selecting a venue near a tinderbox is a major issue.