President of IOC Says Sochi Olympics Will Be a Grand Event
IOC head has commended Russian organizers for making important progress in preparations for the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.
Jacque Rogge, president of IOC is in the Black Sea resort to attend meetings of the European Olympic Committees. The IOC head was taken on a tour of the venues Thursday by Dmitry Chernyshenko, head of Sochi's local organizing committee.
Rogge mentioned that he saw notable improvement since his last visit to Sochi almost two years ago.
The head of the IOC's coordination commission for Sochi, Jean-Claude Killy, said the preparations were right on track and the Sochi Olympics will be a "grandiose event."
Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak revealed that the building of all facilities of Sochi's mountain cluster should be complete by this year and they will host international ski, freestyle and biathlon events next February and March.
"These national and international competitions will allow us to taste the greatness of the future grandiose event and at the same time test the personnel and main Olympic facilities," he said.
Kozak said that the government may even consider subsidizing loan rates for some private investors involved in Sochi construction projects. He also added that it wouldn't result in any significant increase when it comes to costs.