Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to the Russian public for the first time in English in support of Moscow’s bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
Putin, who had never before spoken English publicly, said in excerpts broadcast in Moscow hours before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) host city vote, that Moscow was “perfectly suited” to stage the Olympics after successfully hosting the 1980 Games.
Reportedly speaking with a heavy accent and effort Putin said, “as the President of Russia I am convinced that our hopes for success in bidding for Olympics 2012 are absolutely justified, reasonable and realistic”.
The two main state channels broadcast Putin’s comments in English with a Russian voiceover.
Putin’s taped video message will be part of Moscow’s final presentation to the IOC.
Meanwhile local support for Moscow’s bid has declined over the past year according to an opinion poll released Tuesday. The poll by VTsIOM of 1,594 people throughout the country, conducted June 25-26, found that 25 per cent of those surveyed said money spent on the Olympics would be better used for addressing social problems.
About 29 per cent believed having the Games in Moscow would improve the country’s prestige and ability to attract foreign investment, a drop from 39 per cent last year.
Also, Chechen rebel warlord Shamil Basayev warned Tuesday in a statement posted on a separatist Web site that athletes would not be safe if Moscow hosted the 2012 Olympics.
