Sochi Games Open With Snowflake Malfunction Amid Pageantry
By Rob Gloster Feb 7, 2014 2:16 PM ET
Months of concern over security and unfinished facilities gave way to Russian pageantry and a malfunctioning snowflake as the record-setting $45 billion Sochi Winter Olympics started with the opening ceremony.
Though the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee promised “the most technologically innovative ceremony ever,” there was an early glitch when a giant electronic snowflake failed to open and left the Olympic rings one short of their usual set of five.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had a grim look on his face as the snowflake failed to unfurl and hovered next to four open circles.
Putin is using the games, the most expensive in history, to transform a Soviet-era summer resort on the Black Sea into a year-round destination and highlight the country’s progress. The malfunctioning prop added to organizers’ headaches as visitors complain about incomplete hotels, half-built sidewalks and the treatment of stray dogs.
While journalists have been using social media to show the world photos of broken doors, brown water coming from faucets and unfinished bathrooms, athletes have been little affected, officials and participants said.
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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-07/sochi-olympics-open-with-pomp-after-months-of-security-concerns.html
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