Putin to keep key role in Sochi Olympics

LONDON (AP)—Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will be directing preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the head of the local organizing committee said Tuesday.

“He is still the captain of our team,” Dmitry Chernyshenko told The Associated Press. “He is aware of all the details and is controlling the project at all levels. It is his personal commitment and personal challenge. We will not let him down.”

Putin’s direct involvement became fully evident Thursday when he called for the bobsled and luge venue and the Olympic village in the mountain region to be moved to new locations because of environmental concerns.

“He didn’t suddenly appear.” Chernyshenko said in a telephone interview. “He is personally involved in the project on a daily basis.”