Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, left, talked in private with IOC President Jacque Rogge, right, about the actual chances of Sochi to host the 2014 Olympic Games.
Photo: Dmitry Dukhanin
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Putin Says a Good Word for Sochi
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin met Monday International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacque Rogge. It appears Putin invited Rogge to the Kremlin to make clear whether Sochi has strong chances to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
When meeting Jacque Rogge, Vladimir Putin was beating about the bush at first. “We are fond of sport in this country,” Putin told the IOC president in the Kremlin Monday. “Moscow isn’t a stranger for you. I mean the year of 2001.”
Rogge was quick to say he remembers he was elected as the IOC president in 2001 exactly in Moscow. Moscow ranks high in his heart, he said, emphasizing his pleasure that Russia's Sochi is one of three challengers for 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
“We will speak about it in detail today,” Putin responded never bothering to conceal that Sochi’s victory in this competition is vital for him. Unfortunately, the actual conversation of Putin and Rogge about the winning potential of Sochi was held in private.
In June, IOC picked out the Russian Black Sea resort, Sochi, Austrian Salzburg and South Korean Pyeongchang as contenders for 2014 Winter Olympic Games. The winner will be finally determined next July in Guatemala. Of trio, the score of Sochi is the lowest. It yields to competitors in terms of the environmental condition, sports facilities and security.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 10, 2006
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