PUTIN GUARANTEES SNOW!, WINTER OLYMPICS HEADS TO SUMMER RESORT OF SOCHI

[BillyB]

Putin also gurantees no traffic jams and pledges $12 billion to build from scratch before Russia was awarded the 2014 Winter Olympics.

http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/6980712

[SANDRO43]

Aahh, now I understand really why he's trying to grab a piece of the North Pole, nothing to do with oil at all .

[catzenmouse]

Elena told me about this last evening when we talked. I'm happy to see it happen and it will be a very good thing for Russia overall. Better start booking rooms soon! This will get VERY expensive!

Ken

[Rvrwind]

I'm waiting to see how the OVIR is going to handle all the Visa's.
Contrary to Putins opinion this is going to be a nightmare for all participants involved.

[Bruno]

I'm waiting to see how the OVIR is going to handle all the Visa's.
Contrary to Putins opinion this is going to be a nightmare for all participants involved.

Who know !!!

Ukraine have use the "visa free" regime for the Eurovision... and later, they have make it permanent...

Something similar can maybe happen in Russia...

[Rvrwind]

Something similar can maybe happen in Russia...

Yeah, when Hell freezes over & pigs fly...

[Bruno]

Yeah, when Hell freezes over & pigs fly...

About "Hell freezes"... it have already happen... remember the Goulag in Siberia...

For the "pigs fly"...

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YjvYxTSBlM[/youtube]

 

[Rvrwind]

Thats your fantasy Bruno, open your eyes to the reality.
You can bet the Nashi won't be demonstrating anywhere near Sochi!! Might not be good for Putins game plan!

[Phil dAmore]

Ya know, I'm not all that good on geography as I went to public school and all, but isn't Sochi relatively close to one of the trouble spots in Russia?

http://russophobe.blogspot.com/2007/07/sochi-flytrap.html#links

Did anyone else notice that Putin appointed a special committee to ensure that corruption and skimming are kept to a minimum? (not eliminated, just kept to a minimum.)

http://russophobe.blogspot.com/2007/07/annals-of-neo-soviet-failure-sochi-lays.html#links

[ecr844]

My question is will any of the regular, blue-collar, non-billionaire type people realistically be able to afford to enter the city limits and see the games by the time all this prep is done?

[Gator]

I just spent a week in Sochi.  It will take $12 billion to overhaul the place.  Transportation will be a nightmare if not completely overhauled.  Lodging too.

ecr questioned whether the average Russian can afford the games.  One of the summer highlights in the Sochi region is a long chairlift to the top of the ski area near Adler (actually, a series of four lifts).  Price 800 pyr (about $37) for everyone.  The Russians were lined up in a long queue to take the ride, and most looked like village people.  They will have the money to see the Olympics.

The prices paid by the average Russian today living in Moscow or vacationing in Sochi reveal how much the economy has improved over 5 years.

[ecr844]

I just spent a week in Sochi.  It will take $12 billion to overhaul the place.  Transportation will be a nightmare if not completely overhauled.  Lodging too.

ecr questioned whether the average Russian can afford the games.  One of the summer highlights in the Sochi region is a long chairlift to the top of the ski area near Adler (actually, a series of four lifts).  Price 800 pyr (about $37) for everyone.  The Russians were lined up in a long queue to take the ride, and most looked like village people.  They will have the money to see the Olympics.

The prices paid by the average Russian today living in Moscow or vacationing in Sochi reveal how much the economy has improved over 5 years.

"Gator,"

  But doesn't one also have to wonder that with the amount of capital outlay, the high number of foreigners and tourists, as well as 'demand' to stay 'close' to the games when the inevitable 'inflation' of prices will hit. I guess only time will tell how high the 'ceiling' will go.

ecr844 

[Gator]

Ecr,

You are correct.  It will be expensive.  However, there are thousands and thousands of rooms that will never be refurbished that would be okay for the village people's budget.

My concern is that the rich Russians would take over the best places, and foreigners could not afford it.  Frankly, I do not know if I would want to attend the Olympics with rude rich Russians everywhere.  Village people would be better as all they do is break into lines and drink too much.  TV is the answer.

We have a new RWD member who lives there and his opinion would be more valuable than mine.