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.”

Putin, then Russian president, was instrumental in Sochi securing the games when he traveled to Guatemala City a year ago to lobby International Olympic Committee members before the host city vote.

As prime minister, Putin is head of the government council overseeing the Sochi Olympics, the first Winter Games to be held in Russia. Sochi, a Black Sea resort at the base of the Caucasus mountains, has served as Putin’s summer residence.

Chernyshenko said Putin’s role in the change of venues was a “perfect example” of cooperation between the organizing committee and the Russian government.

“We can show the world that we can deliver concrete action, not just words, as President Putin personally promised in Guatemala,” he said.

Sochi, which must build all its venues from scratch, has been under pressure from environmental groups concerned about the impact on the ecology in the mountain region.

Chernyshenko said organizers remain on course to complete the facilities two years ahead of the Olympics.

“This relocation will not impact the final deadlines,” he said. “We are firmly on track.”