One last #SochiProblem: Everyone is stuck at the airport, very cold (Photos)
After the Closing Ceremony, the Winter Olympics in Sochi are now over. There are no more medals to be handed out, controversies to be debated, and memorable moments to savor. What was once but a gleam in Vladimir Putin's eye is now a part of Russia's history.
[Photos: Athletes partying after the Closing Ceremony ]
On a slightly less grandiose note, the end of the Olympics also marks the end of the unfortunate #SochiProblems. While most of the issues in Sochi seems to have been limited to the first few days and were perhaps overblown to begin with, the early problems with hotel rooms and presence of many stray dogs could be responsible for some of the most indelible images of the last few weeks. In theory, that's all over now.
Except that, when various athletes and media members arrived at the airport to catch their departing flights from Sochi, they were met with one last Sochi problem. As the tweets below show, it was not a particularly comfortable experience.
First, let's check in with Yahoo's own Alan Springer:
Fellow Sochi journalists trying to leave this morning. Sochi Airport is a mess. Nobody can tell you gates or anything pic.twitter.com/nowYIVA6yd
— Alan Springer (@alanspringer) February 23, 2014
Well, that doesn't look so great? But how early should people show up?
If you are coming to Sochi airport, get here 3 hours in advance. You can't check in any earlier & u don't even know where to stand in line.
— pegmcshinn (@pegmcshinn) February 24, 2014
This doesn't sound great, but things are often as bad in American airports. It can't be that uncomfortable, can it? Here's Holly Brooks, Team USA cross-country skier:
Now Games r done athletes huddled in unheated storage unit waiting hrs in middle of night 4 flight #coldestivebeen pic.twitter.com/e7d1V00EBZ
— Holly Brooks (@brooksha1) February 23, 2014
Even the Canadians thought it was cold:
#lifeofanathlete sitting at the Sochi airport @ 4am @Mehollingsworth @NeilsonEric @JohnnyFairbairn @bodehawkins pic.twitter.com/fGQH5fVbkg
— Sarah Reid (@Skelly_Rider) February 24, 2014
At least everyone has friends to keep them company:
Cold and tired. But being with friends helps quite a bit! @moniquelam7 @JocelyneUSA17 @meganebozek @jasonbskates pic.twitter.com/i9ds9Ri1P2
— Alex Shibutani (@AlexShibutani) February 23, 2014
Or you can throw things in the mouth of sleeping teammates like luge rider Chris Mazdzer:
Some guys just aren't cut out for life on the road @mazdzer pic.twitter.com/CQSLJ8IhgP
— Anders Johnson (@flyingaj) February 23, 2014
Just make sure to watch out for IOC officials cutting in line:
Have seen Ted Ligety and Patrick Chan and also some IOC lady cut us in line. The flame may be extinguished but not the Olympic spirit!!!!!!
— katiebakes (@katiebakes) February 24, 2014
(To clarify, neither Ligety nor Chan cut in line — they were simply observed.)
Some athletes have been lucky enough to make it on their flights. They do not necessarily look thrilled about it:
Traveling is fun. it's 4:30 am and we just boarded our flight following closing ceremonies @KeriHerman @Aaron_Blunck pic.twitter.com/Y662I2Sb6G
— Brita Sigourney (@britasig) February 24, 2014
Happy Olympics, everyone! Get home soon!
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