Jean-Claude Killy, head of the International Olympic Committee’s Coordination Commission, said getting Sochi ready for the 2014 Winter Games is a huge challenge because it must build nearly all the facilities, (and much of the infrastructure), from scratch, but although much remains to be done, he said “these Games have the potential to be truly magnificent” and commission members were “all very impressed by what we have seen”.
Killy added, “I have every confidence that we will succeed”.
Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov said preparations for the Olympics are “a priority of Russia’s leadership” and that the task of getting ready for the Games would be “fulfilled 100 per cent”, reports AP.
He said “Sochi can be and will be a super-modern sports centre and world-class resort”.
According to AP the ice event venues, the stadium for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and the main Olympic Village are nothing more than plans on paper. Construction on skiing venues in the mountains is slightly further along.
Killy and the other members of the commission toured two construction sites at Krasnaya Polyana, a settlement in the mountains above Sochi where the alpine events will take place.
Killy said, “we are very impressed with the speed with which you have put together your organizing committee. These Games have the potential to be truly magnificent”.
