Moscow’s bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympic bid could be jeopardized by the hostage crisis now underway in a Moscow theatre.
Vitaly Smimnov, the former head of Russia’s Olympic Committee, told Agence France-Presse that the hostage taking may force the IOC to reject Moscow’s bid.
He said, “at the present time the IOC is paying a lot of attention to the problems of security as the Olympic Games are too attractive a target for the terrorists’ attack”.
There could also be problems with Russia’s bid to host the 2008 European championship.
Vladimir Radionive, secretary general of the Russian Soccer Union (RFU) said, “Russia’s chances to host the European championship in 2008 were seriously reduced after the Wednesday’s armed attack. We are all shocked by what’s happening in Moscow but hope the authorities are able to resolve the situation and save the hostages’ lives”.
