Olympic inspection for Sochi
Monday April 19, 2010 - Email this article to a friend

It's the third visit of the International Olympic Committee's Co-ordination Commission, and the first since the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver last February.

The Commission Chairman, Jean-Claude Killy, and the FIS President Gian Franco Kasper are reviewing the progress made by the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee.

During the three day visit, the Commission will see the Olympic venues in Sochi and Krasnaya Polyana, as well as look at the progress in a number of Games-related areas, including sport, athlete services, media services, transport and culture.

4 years to go"This will allow the Commission to get a full overview of the Games project and allow it to provide guidance to the Sochi team as the world's spotlight turns to Russia," says a statement from the International Olympic Committee.

The FIS technical officials are focusing on developments at Rosa Khutor - the Alpine Skiing venue that will host the FIS European Cup in Alpine Skiing in February 2011.

It will be seen as a test event for the Winter Games.

At the moment things are looking good and are on schedule.

"Competitions can already be staged in Rosa Khutor tomorrow, if necessary. I am very satisfied with the results. Once work is completed on the artificial snow system, and safety nets are installed, Rosa Khutor will be fully ready for training and competitions in all ski events," says Bernhard Russi, the Vice Chairman of the FIS Alpine Committee.

"A lot of progress has been made and I have absolute confidence that the remaining work on the tracks and artificial snow system will be implemented in time and that Rosa Khutor will host major international events," adds Atle Skaardal, FIS Chief Race Director for the FIS World Cup in Ladies Alpine Skiing.

"We plan to return here soon to settle all the final formalities necessary to stage the European Cup in February 2011".

Sochi 2014 President and CEO, Dmitry Chernyshenko, said he valued the feedback from the FIS.

The information above is from the IOC and FIS.

However, other people take a slightly different view.

Dr Sergei Volkov, a former consultant to the Sochi Winter Olympics, claims the massive construction programme is forging ahead without essential research into the region's complex geology and ecology.

He is now is in hiding in southern Ukraine because he fears being detained by Russian authorities on trumped-up criminal charges.

The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) warned in February that "preparation for the Olympics is out of control, construction is of poor quality and vast damage to the environment has already been done".

For more on the concerns about the preparations and construction works for the Sochi Games see this story.

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