The voice behind the @SochiProblems Twitter account that gained popularity throughout the 2014 Winter Olympics was a second-year journalism student at Toronto’s Centennial College.
The account posted satirical comments about issues and mistakes taking place in the Olympic host city throughout the competition, gaining over 336,000 followers.
“The #SochiOlympics will only feature 4 rings as to the normal 5 due to ‘technical difficulties’. #SochiProblems,” one post stated, making light of the opening ceremony mishap.
Another poked fun at the construction taking place around the city.
“Macklemore did a remake of his song ‘Thrift Shop’ for #SochiProblems . It is as followed: “Walk up to the hotel like, ‘Where’s the lobby?’” read another tweet.
Alexander Broad said he wasn’t expecting that much of a response when he started the account Feb. 4.
“When I first started the account, it was just for a few laughs, just for good comic relief,” he said. “I thought that a couple people would see it.”
But the account gained traction when it hit the 100,000 mark and reeled in even more followers than the official Olympics account, @Sochi2014, two days after its initial set-up, Broad said.
He said he managed the account for its large fan base while also juggling schoolwork.
“At first it was stressful, because I had a lot on my plate and I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to put it up for speed,” he said.
To help organize his time so as not to be constantly on the account, Broad said he used the help of Buffer, an app where the user can write tweets and then set up times for it to be posted.
But Broad said posts are still spontaneous.
“Other times, I might come up with a genius tweet that comes up right then that fits perfectly,” he said.
Broad said the account has also been a way for him to express his personality.
“My mind travels very quickly and I think that gives me the extra edge on being creative,” he said. “And I have a satire sense of humor, so that definitely helps me out.”
The account’s popularity has also attracted media attention with national news outlets contacting Broad for interviews.
“It’s been quite interesting, mainly being a journalism student and a journalist you’re usually on the other side,” he said. “So this experience has put me on the opposite side. It’s kind of weird in some way, kind of ironic.”
After he finishes his program, Broad said he hopes to one day become a sports anchor. He said he hopes the account’s popularity may help to grab the attention of potential employers.
Following the ending of the Olympics, Broad changed the Twitter handle to @CanuckProblems, hoping to continue its popularity with a local take on satire.
