The bathrooms in Sochi are getting more interesting by the day.
It started with the oddly set up double toilets found in various spots around the city. (Via Twitter / @BBCSteveR)
Then, journalists started arriving and writing about their less-than-favorable experiences. (Via Twitter / @StacyStClair)
The early bad PR before the 2014 Winter Olympic Games has gotten under the skin of some Russian officials. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak tried to discredit the complaints, but judging by this report from The Wall Street Journal, he might have made the situation much worse.
He said: "We have surveillance video from the hotels that shows people turn on the shower, direct the nozzle at the wall and then leave the room for the whole day."
Yes, surveillance video from the hotel showers. The Journal adds that shortly after he made that comment, Kozak was taken aside by his aides.
And one of his spokespeople tried to clarify, saying there are no surveillance cameras in "occupied" hotel rooms. Instead, the spokesperson suggests Kozak was referring to videos taken when the rooms were under construction. (Via The Wall Street Journal)
Let's hope so. But it's not like folks headed to Sochi weren't expecting some over-the-top surveillance.
The Winter Olympics have already been the target of multiple terrorist threats, with police on high alert for so-called "black widow" suicide bombers. (Via CNN)
And U.S. officials warned Wednesday about bombs smuggled into the city inside toothpaste tubes. Officials didn't say what prompted the warning, but so far no "toothpaste bomb" incidents have been reported. (Via ABC)
The Winter Games opening ceremony is set to take place Friday.
