The 10-year plan aims to provide Russian athletes with the best possible facilities for training and is also expected to benefit Russian performance at Sochi 2014.

During the meeting’s discussion, a new structure for the ROC Executive Committee was also approved streamlining the body to 20 senior figures from the world of Russian sport.

The President of ROC, Alexandr Zhukov admitted that the Russian Olympic Committee will be the one of the most effective National Olympic Committees that will ensure Russia remains a global sporting powerhouse.

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Climate change should be taken into account in the country’s preparations for 2014 Winter Olympic Games in the southern Russian city of Sochi, according to the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

“We should take it [climate change] into account when preparing for the Olympics, and other international competitions,” Medvedev said. “I think we will have to make changes due to the climate and spend additional funds, including for the Winter Olympics,” Medvedev said.

A meeting about preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi was headed by  Medvedev on Friday.

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Over 50 students who are currently part of construction teams involved in delivering Russia’s first Winter Games today participated in “The Olympic Induction” workshop in Sochi. The event was arranged by Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee with support from Russian Railways, a General Partner of the 2014 Winter Games.

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A Moscow deputy mayor said on Friday that celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympic Games will be held as part of the forum Russia Is A Sport Power from July 29 to August 1 at the Luzhniki Sports Center.

“A total of 92 athletes will attend the forum, including the winners of the 1980 Olympics from different countries,” Sergei Baidakov said.

He also mentioned that 17 presidents of sports federations, 81 foreign delegates and over 2,500 delegates from Russian regions confirmed their participation in the forum.

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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited the Sochi 2014 Olympic Park Wednesday to check the progress being made on its construction.

The Olympic Park which is scheduled to open in March 2013 was toured by Putin together with Taymuraz Bolloev, Head of Olympstroy, who provided the Prime Minister with an update on the park’s construction, including the Central Stadium, Bolshoi and Maliy Ice Palaces, and Olympic Skating Center.

The Prime Minister was shown an artist’s impression of the Bolshoi Ice Palace so that he could compare it to the construction project.

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The "Aqua-jazz" successfully took place on the 17th and 18th of July during the Cultural Olympiad in the Olympic City. Well-known jazzmen performed music in different genres, like funk, electro jazz, straight ahead, jazz-rock, fusion in front of thousands of viewers on the stage of Green theatre in Riviera Park. The festival opened with “jazz parade” starting from the “Moscow” hotel to the Green Theatre in Riviera park, where the concerts took place.

The real treat for the guests was the performance by Igor Butman, the world-class saxophonist, the winner of State Award of Russian Federation for literature and arts, who performed with such music legends as Ray Charles, George Benson, El Gero. In Sochi he also performed as a producer of the festival.

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Russian Railways is building a rail line which connects Adler to Sochi Airport. This new intermodal line will ensure comfortable high-speed transport for visitors as well as participants at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.  It has an estimated capacity of more than 86,000 people per day, or up to 60% of all air passengers traveling to the Olympics. The line is due to be launched in 2012. Building and assembly work are progressing ahead of schedule, and preparation work has been concluded early. The construction of a bridge across the Bolshaya Khirota river has been completed, the building frame of the airport station’s passenger terminal is almost ready, and one of the flyovers is nearing completion. Currently, a total of three flyovers and two tunnels are to be constructed on the 2.76-km highway. Preparatory work has already started on tunnel No. 1, while on tunnel No. 2, a total of 294 metres (88%) has been built and the drainage system is almost complete. By this year’s end, tunneling work is scheduled to be finished, road-laying work is to start on two flyovers, and equipment installation will begin at the airport station’s passenger pavilion.

Russia makes another history due to a 21-21 draw with Romania in Sochi. This also qualifies the team for their first Rugby World Cup. The Russian rugby team is already assured of their 2011 place since no other team has overtaken them for the second place in the European Nations Cup table.Meanwhile, Spain was defeated by Georgia 17-9 in order to qualify for the Rugby World Cup even with two games remaining. Ultimately, a win between Russia and Georgia will decide which team will face-off with England, Argentina and Scotland in Pool B in New Zealand. As for the runners-up of the European Nations cup, they will play against USA, Italy, Australia and Ireland in Pool C.On the other hand, Portugal and Romania would have to battle it out for the 3rd spot. The one who comes out on top will either face the winner of the European Nations Cup Division 2A or Lithuania to be able to join a cross-continental play off that will determine the final Pool B job at the World Cup. The other place at Rugby World Cup 2011 with the Asian qualifier will be decided from the winner of the Asian Five Nations.

INTERFAX-REAL ESTATE - China supports the holding of a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in 2012 in Vladivostok and the Winter Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi, said the Ambassador of China in Russia Li.

“China’s leaders have repeatedly said that the Chinese government firmly supports the holding of the APEC summit in Russia in 2012 and the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014″ - a Chinese diplomat said in a statement to Russian media, was circulated on the eve of the 60 th anniversary of the founding of the PRC and the establishment of Russia -Chinese diplomatic relations.

“We encourage Chinese enterprises to actively participate in the construction of relevant infrastructure facilities, we are willing to share their experience with partners in Russia”, - said Ambassador of China, where the 2008 Summer Olympic Games were held.

“I am sure that Russia is sure to successfully undertake both the grandiose event”, - said Li.

Dmitry Kozak, the current Regional Developement Minister has been appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister who will be overseeing the preparations for the Sochi 2014  Winter Olympics.

Considered to be a highly efficient crisis manager in Putin’s team, he is well respected by his peers and authorities. Kozak will be managing the entire construction preparations for the Winter Olympics where his responsibilities would include the construction of sporting facilities. Read the complete Post.