Goodwill Games: Skaters left on thin ice
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.BRITISH RAIL became a laughing stock when they complained about the wrong sort of snow, and now the organisers of the Goodwill Games face similar ridicule because they always seem to have the wrong sort of water.
First it was water the colour of pea soup in the main pool, forcing the swimming to be postponed. Now it is water which will not freeze - and staging ice skating without any ice is not easy.
In a city that suffers bitterly cold winters, the organisers do not appear to have allowed for the fact that the Games are being staged in the height of summer.
When the boxing finished at the Yubileiny Palace of Sports on Saturday the concrete floor of the building was flooded. The water should have been frozen in time for the start of the speed skating today but hot weather has slowed the process, leaving the rink a mess of slush.
A practice session yesterday was switched to a nearby rink but conditions there were little better, with the ice soft and brown-coloured. 'It looks like it has been mixed with oil,' the American pairs skater Lance Travis said. 'It's got a weird texture to it.'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
0Comments