RUSSIA: WINTER OLYMPICS 2014 - IOC happy with progress of Sochi - host of the 2014 Winter Olympics

Record ID: 1540359

  • Title: RUSSIA: WINTER OLYMPICS 2014 - IOC happy with progress of Sochi - host of the 2014 Winter Olympics
  • Date: 16th April 2010
  • Summary: MORE OF OLYMPIC SITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION/ TRAIN / SKI LIFT MOSCOW, RUSSIA (APRIL 14, 2010) (REUTERS) PYOTR VERBNENKO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WWF RUSSIA, WORKING AT DESK (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WWF RUSSIA PYOTR VERBNENK SAYING: "We are still missing a comprehensive programme of ecological monitoring which would allow to assess the damage and develop proposals for minimizing its effect." ANIMALS IN CAGE IN OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WWF RUSSIA PYOTR VERBNENK SAYING: "It was planned to create a park for the birds on the territory of Imeretinskaya lowland. As of today there is simply no territory left to create such a park. All the territory is fully developed. All places where migratory birds would come for winter or make a stop for rest have now been totally drained and developed. And now there is simply no sense in creating such a park. It's too late. I can give you more examples like this." SOCHI, RUSSIA (APRIL 14, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS VIEWS OF CITY
  • Embargoed: 1st May 2010 15:51
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVAAOUUD6LSD50PIO2U5XLWHIZPG
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: The host city for the 2014 Winter Olympics is making good progress with contruction, an Interational Olympic Committee Co-ordination Commission for Sochi said on Thusday. (April 15) With the Vancouver Games now confined to history, the focus of the IOC regarding the winter games is now squarely on Russia and it is so far, so good.
    "We, the International Olympic Committee, were extremely happy about what we saw and heard over the past three days," Commission chairman Jean-Claude Killy told a news conference in Sochi after a three day assessment trip.
    Russia's Deputy Prime Minster Dmitry Kozak is the government's most senior figure involved with the organisation of the Games, having been appointed by his superior, former President and now Prime Minster, Vladmir Putin. Kozak was also in Sochi on Thursday and responded to questions surrounding security concerns after recent blasts on the metro train system in Moscow.
    "Today the threat of terrorism has an international nature," Kozak said.
    "There are no peculiarities of terrorism threat in Russia which are different from other countries. We are going to take the same measures as the other countries take to provide security in holding big events like the Olympic Games."
    Environmental issues have also been raised in recent times and Kozak added organisers were cooperating with environmental groups in ensuring minimal damage to the natural surroundings.
    "I believe we have established constructive dialogue with the majority of Russian and international environmental organisations," he said.
    "At present we have implemented a programme of ecological monitoring of the preparations for the Olympic Games. We have taken a number of measures to insure tough ecological control over the construction of Olympic site, which is the main problem."
    But environmental group WWF Russia have slammed such claims.
    "We are still missing a comprehensive programme of ecological monitoring which would allow to assess the damage and develop proposals for minimizing its effect," the Executive Director of WWF Russia Pyotr Verbnenko said.
    He added environmental damage has been done and gave an example of the Imeritinskaya lowland, homeland to over 200 bird species.
    "It was planed to create a park for the birds on the territory of Imeretinskaya lowland. But as of today there is simply no territory left to create such a park.
    "All territory is fully developed. All places where migratory birds would come for winter or make a stop for rest have now been totally drained and developed.
    "And now there is simply no sense in creating such a park. It's too late.
    "I can give you more examples like this," Verbnenko said.
    Imeretinskaya Valley, famous for its beaches and ornithological park, will be the centre of the 2014 Olympics It will host the Olympic Park comprising of the Olympic Village, media centres, hotels and many competition venues.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register