Some of the most spectacular cities in the world have been home to the winter Olympics. In most of them, the skeleton of what used to be Olympic living ground remains erect as a testimony to the city’s past and present greatness, as well as popular tourist sites. This, perhaps, is why athletes were shocked to land in Russia this winter, only to find that their living accommodations were less than subpar. Or, perhaps, it was because of the stray dogs that were roaming their hotels.

That’s right, you read it correctly. Athletes revealed their unfinished hotel rooms on social media venues such as Twitter to be ugly, uncomfortable, and in some cases, dangerous. One US bobsledder actually had to claw his way through the door of the bathroom in his hotel room after being locked-in during his shower. Another bobsleigh champion found her hotel room’s lift-doors to be wide open, exposing a dangerous drop. Others found their beds to be too small, televisions hanging out of the walls, and brown water flooding their sinks and toilets.

Being an Olympian is such an amazing feat, both physically and mentally. It is ludicrous that these athletes had to deal with the mental trauma of being uncomfortable and concerned about basic safety before endeavoring on the performance of their lifetime. It is clear that the Russian President Vladimir Putin was not ready for the incoming athletes. Or did he just fail to make the construction of the Olympic living grounds a priority while dealing with the strife that is currently plaguing Russia? Some critics are even saying that Putin’s shortcomings are not a matter of strife, but rather of poor planning.  I am just glad to see Americans still dominating in sports like men’s ice-hockey and figure skating.