Note: there are some images below that may be distressing
From Vlast’s LiveJournal:
Sluchisochi.rf – We bust the myths about Sochi
It seems to me that the situation with the lies and rumours around Sochi has reached its limits. Many things that are being published about the Olympics are lies, and I want to refute them. That’s why I created the site “SluchiSochi.RF” [SochiRumours.rf] on which all of the lies about Sochi are quickly refuted. The site’s logo is pants on fire from the famous English proverb “liar, liar, pants on fire”.
We’ll bust the myths relating to the Sochi Olympics in order.
Myth №1. Rusty water from the taps
Journalists are spreading a photograph of rusty water which is coming out of the taps in Sochi. For example, the Washington Post retweeted the account @Sochiproblems, on which the following photo was posted:
Refutation:
This photo was used in 2012 to illustrate a news article about the low quality of drinking water in the Ukraine. In particular, the photo was used here (the timestamp on the article is 9 October 2012):
Myth №2.
Mass murders of animals
There is always news on Twitter about mass killings of stray dogs. In particular, Russian opposition blogger Vitaliy Shushkevich has posted a photograph of murdered animals (see below).
Refutation:
This photo was taken in 2012 in the Ukraine, in Donetsk. The article spoke about the uncontrolled dumping of dogs outside the town. The person who took the photo is Pauluskp.
Proof.
Myth №3. Ice cream in the ass
In Sochi, it’s not polite to eat ice creams with your mouth. Polite waiters suggest shoving it up your arse.
Refutation:
The photograph’s real, but it wasn’t taken in Sochi. This particular photo was published a long time ago on the internet as a funny illustration (21 June 2012).
Proof.
Myth №4. Toilet in the wall
Russians don’t just know how to put two toilets in one room, but half a toilet in one room.
Refutation:
This photo appeared on the popular site Reddit 6 months ago.
Proof.
Myth №5. Places for judges in the toilet
In Sochi’s toilets, there is a special place for spectators. More than likely, it’s actually a place for judges, who are judging the sportsmen’s performance even in this type of sport.
Refutation:
This photo became quite well-known on the internet after it was published on the 20th December 2013. It is unknown where it was taken, there is no evidence whatsoever that this toilet is in Sochi.
Proof.
Myth №6. Sudden gunfire
Russia is so hardcore that you can end up accidentally coming under fire.
Refutation:
This photograph ended up in a compilation of the most ridiculous road signs as early as 19 June 2012. There is no evidence whatsoever that this was photographed in Sochi. These signs are perfectly normal around the grounds of military areas.
Proof:
Myth №7. Toilet for 5 people
Sochi is a place for friendly people. Here you can sit with your friends and a glass of beer right on the toilets.
“Pass the toilet roll, please”
Refutation:
In fact, this photo was taken in Russia, but in a different place. This is a toilet in the University of Kazan, but the photo was taken by Max Lomakin for the BBC.
Proof.
Myth №8. The Olympics are being held against a background of ruined Soviet buildings
All of the money that was set aside for the Olympics was stolen by Putin himself, to pay the policemen to beat up the gays. The Olympics are being carried out on the remains of the Soviet Union.
Refutation:
This photograph was actually taken in Sochi, but not during the Olympics. This photo was taken by Kai Pfaffenbach for Reuters on the 19th February 2013.
Proof.
Myth №9. Door handles come off in your hands.
There wasn’t enough money for construction work in Sochi. All of the money was stolen by greedy civil servants to fight the opposition. That’s the reason that all the door handles in the hotels are flying off into your eyes. American journalist Barry Petchesky from a sports publication tried to open his hotel room, but the door handle stayed in his hand.
Refutation:
Barry himself two days ago said that this photo wasn’t taken in Sochi. Besides, Barry said the brilliant sentence “The best part of every Olympics is crapping on the host”.
Respectively, after this it became clear the reasons foreign journalists are photographing all of the “negatives” of the Sochi Olympics. […]
Myth №10. They paint the grass in Sochi
The true green grass in Sochi isn’t green enough. Therefore, it needs to be painted right in front of the guests. Journalist for the Russian “Novaya Gazeta” Evgeniy Feldman posted a photo on Reuters, in which you can see them painting the grass in front of the stadium. The main point the journalist raises is that they were painting right in front of the Olympic guests.
Refutation:
Doing this sort of thing with grass is called hydroseeding. In the photograph above, the woman is simply planting grass like this. Moreover, Evgeniy Feldman’s photograph was posted late in the evening on the 4th February. In the corner of the photo, you can see the Reuters caption. What’s interesting is that on the same day, Reuters published another photo, in which you can see the grass absolutely green, which it is not necessary to paint.
Proof.
At least another three myths that are being posted and retweeted happily by everyone will be refuted today. […]
My contact details:
+7 90[…]679
vik[…]anov@gmail.com
[Note: sections removed for privacy are clearly visible in the original article.]
Comments from Vlast’s LiveJournal:
dobrovolecrus:
The number of idiots who fall for these pictures is high. The main thing is not to fall for them yourselves. You always need to check your news, or believe a trusted source.
infantissimo:
We need to be proud of our country! Be proud that we’ve managed to get the Olympics here, and the opening ceremony was just fantastic!
cr_ch:
Thank you very much for your post, at least there’s one decent person on the internet. I’m definitely going to show my daughter, I nearly shouted at her when she showed me these photos from VK
v1: (responding to above)
You’re welcome, I did it because I couldn’t stand all this crap about Sochi
sypergenius:
Hmm, the dogs photo is very unpleasant.
saudaliron:
That’s how they problem of stray dogs was solved in the democratic Ukraine)))
mstataka:
Thanks for the post!!!
saudaliron:
As the journalist said: the main thing is to crap on the hosts.
nina_benoit:
Shame no one will see this abroad.
dolkina:
Thanks for the truth!
kabzon642642:
I live in the Olympic village. If you’ve got any questions, ask away.