Sochi residents diverge in assessing the impact of Olympics on the city

Some of Sochi residents believe that the preparation for the Olympics has brought a great benefit to Sochi as a resort. Others, on the opposite, assert that many social problems remain unresolved because of the Olympics. These are the results of the blitz opinion poll conducted by the "Caucasian Knot" in the city streets one day before the opening of the Games.

"Due to the Olympics, Sochi has turned from a village into a capital. Living in the city has become more comfortable. Quality of life of local residents has improved. Problems exist, but they are all solvable," Valentina Zakernichnaya, a pensioner who lives in Sochi for 55 years, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "They've built beautiful roads. I used them to go to Krasnaya Polyana, Adler, around the city... I do like it all very much," she said.

Lyudmila Savelieva said that because of the Olympics she, along with her daughter, son-in-law and young grandsons, has become homeless. In 2008, by the court decision, they were evicted into the street from their barrack in Akatsiy Street, which was smashed to give place for building M-27 Federal Highway. The family received neither compensation nor housing. "After a long ordeal, we are now six people in two tiny rooms in the "Neptune" boarding house, where we live temporarily under the fear that at any moment we can be driven out with our children," said Lyudmila Savelieva.

"I worked at the Olympic site with the hope to earn money for maintaining my family. Instead, I was beaten and made invalid. Generally, I can't work at all. My family lives in misery. What joy is this Olympiad for me?" a builder Mardiros Demerchyan told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

A student Marina Stepanenko is concerned about ecological problems of Sochi. "The environment has grown so bad that I got sick with asthma. Concrete is everywhere; greenery has disappeared. The sea and rivers are dirty; the drinking water is disgusting," said Marina Stepanenko.

Let us add here that each of those who spoke about their social and personal problems did not plan to attend the competitions.