Truth and Consequences

"After the collapse of the Soviet Union, after the dark and, let us be honest, bloody events in the Caucasus, the public attitude in Russia became very negative and pessimistic. We have to pull ourselves together and realize that we can deliver large-scale projects on time and with high standards."
Russian President Vladimir Putin

The Olympic rings and cauldron for the Olympic flame, Sochi Olympic Park. Photograph: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

"It has become increasingly clear that the Sochi Olympics are an unprecedented scam involving both representatives of Putin's government and oligarchs close to the establishment. In effect, the Sochi Olympics have highlighted the main flaws of Putin's system in a nutshell: lawlessness, corruption, high-handedness, cronyism, incompetence and irresponsibility.
"We have yet to appreciate the true scale of the environmental damage of Russia's only subtropical areas. However, it is already clear that the unique flora and fauna of the Imereti Valley have been lost, the River Mzymta has been disfigured, protected forests have been chopped down, the predatory construction of roads, bridges and tunnels has led to irreversible damage to the gorges in the area."
Report: Boris Nemtsov, opposition leader/Leonid Martynyuki, Putin critic

In fact, a geologist working as a consultant for the Games appears to have taken it upon himself as someone professionally and ethically stricken by the situation his examination has revealed, to warn of the extent and depth of the environmental damage resulting from construction of the various sites in Sochi. He was also, fortunately for him, sensible enough to recognize the danger his scruples had placed him in, and fled the country rather than face arrest on trumped-up criminal charges.



Authorities, absolutely thrilled at the closeness of the opening, less than a week away, want to focus on the glory of the games and how it will all reflect positively within the international community overwhelmed by the sumptuous attention to detail to be seen in the official sites. No one is expanding on the potential of terrorist attacks, other than to soothingly murmur that there is no cause to even think twice about security, since it is all assured to be well in hand with the presence of thousands of security police.

Another item no one will be talking about is the possibility of the eventual practical use of all those expensive behemoths welcoming the world of sport to Sochi. "After all", state Mr. Nemtsov and Mr. Martynyk, "no one in Sochi plays ice hockey, nor do they skate or do figure skating. You cannot find a single biathlete, skier or skater born in Sochi." The city, with a population of a half million had filled the city's 10,000-seat soccer stadium at its opening ceremony, and only that once.

And they will now be gifted with a combined 200,000 seats at all Olympic venues. Aren't they the lucky ones? And it can only be speculated about upkeep costs; electricity, heating, whatever it takes to keep these sites operational. Who pays the bills for all of it once the Games have concluded and the world, bubbling over with enthusiasm over the magnificent spectacle this $52-billion boondoggle presented, have left Sochi to its puzzled residents.

The estimates come in at $1-million-worth of electricity daily. At a reduced rate taking into account post-Games' use, if any can be found, the sum total of those energy costs would come in at $312-annually. City coffers ... or federal authorities ... in a city incapable of delivering electricity to all its residents at the best of times. Gold-plated sport facilities, a lovely heritage for a city that has been incapable of extending sewage and water and electricity facilities to all its suburbs.

This is the Winter Olympics. "Real snow is guaranteed", boasted Mr. Putin at the time that Russia was bidding for the Games. Real snow, in fact, over 700,000 cubic metres has been stockpiled for use as required, whispers Russia's Construction Ministry. And next on the agenda ... the Formula One track that cost $367-million awaits October when Russia hosts its first Formula One Grand Prix event.