President of the International Olympic Committee Jacque Rogge (center), chairman of Coordinating Commission on preparation for the Olympic Games in Sochi of 2014 Jean-Claude Killy (2nd right), executive director of International Olympic Committee Gilbert Felli (2nd left), vice president of the IOC Vitaly Smirnov (left), president of Olympic Committee of Russia Leonid Tyagachev (right) and Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov (3rd left)
Photo: Dmitry Azarov
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Putin Meets Olympians in Sochi
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, and his assistants Jean-Claude Killy and Gilbert Felli, at the Bocharov Ruchei presidential residence in Sochi yesterday to discuss preparations for the 2014 Olympics Games.
“When we talk about the environment, we unfortunately have to admit that at this point in a city of half a million people there is no proper sewage system, electricity supply or infrastructure. All this will have to be resolved in preparation for the Olympics,” Putin said in reference to Olympic preparations.
“I wish to inform you that we have decided on the structure of the agencies that will help prepare for the Olympic Games,” the president continued. “We have redesignated the Presidential Council for Sport as the Council for Sport and Preparation for the Olympics. It will be made up of experts, including those from the environmental movement in Russia and various international organizations. They will resolve questions about building the Olympic facilities and developing infrastructure, using their extensive professional expertise and doing their job with the utmost transparency and openness.
“A presidium headed by the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation will oversee the everyday business of the Council. This bureau, comprised of key cabinet ministers and representatives of other departments, will direct the preparation for the Olympics.
“We are creating an Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, which will work directly with our colleagues from the International Olympic Committee. I understand that they are here with us today.
“The Chairman of the Supervisory Board of this structure will be Deputy Prime Minister [Alexander] Zhukov, who is well known to you. Mr. Petrashenko will serve as executive director. He is also here, and you know him because of his involvement in preparing our application in Guatemala.”
“You can count on the International Olympic Committee’s full support as you prepare for the Games,” Rogge replied. “As you know, I have appointed Mr. Jean-Claude Killy as head of the Coordination Commission. There is no need to introduce him because he is a legendary alpine skier. And he also benefits from unique experience in preparing the Olympic Games, particularly those that were held in Albertville in the Savoie region in 1992. He also served as chairman of the Turin Coordination Commission and will provide all necessary support. As to Mr. Felli, he is simply a walking encyclopedia of information regarding the Olympic Games and, in particular, with respect to winter sports.”
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Sep. 28, 2007
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