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IOC praises 2014 Sochi Olympic preparations

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SOCHI, April 23 (RIA Novosti) - The head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission said on Wednesday Russia is on the right track in its preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympic games.

Chairman Jean-Claude Killy called the Olympic Games in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi an ambitious project adding that the city will definitely be ready to host the games in 2014.

The IOC official also praised the good and productive relations, which has been established between the Coordinating Commission and the Russian organizing committee of the Olympic Games.

The IOC commission was on a two-day visit to Sochi April 22-23 to check the progress for the Olympic games and meet with the Sochi Organizing Committee, the first time since the commission was formed last year.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov said in turn that Russia will continue close cooperation with the commission, which is due to return to Sochi in October, and will follow all IOC recommendations.

"We do not even think there is a possibility that some of the facilities will not be ready before the Olympics," Zhukov said.

However, on Wednesday a Greenpeace representative again spoke of possible environmental damage caused by the construction of a bobsleigh track along one of Sochi's picturesque ridges.

Environmental groups said the planned bobsleigh road in the Caucasus State Natural Reserve is one of the most damaging Olympic projects, along with a mountain Olympic village and a rail line in the region, classified by UNESCO as the only mountainous area in Europe that remains virtually undamaged by humans.

Russian Natural Resources Minister Yury Trutnev responded to protests Tuesday, and said that all planned facilities for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, including the bobsleigh track, would not be relocated.

When speaking about transport infrastructure for the games, Russian Regional Development Minister Dmitry Kozak said it was also possible that an airport in the Georgian breakaway republic of Abkhazia could be used, but the issue will require further discussion.

"The issue will be resolved by diplomats in line with international air traffic regulations and agreements between Russia, Georgia and Abkhazia," Kozak said.

Russia also opened on Wednesday a Sochi 2014 unified information center. A community liaison office will work at the center, enabling Sochi residents to contact high-ranking officials.

Sochi won the right to host the Olympics during an International Olympic Committee session in Guatemala in July 2007 after a close race with South Korea's Pyeongchang and Austria's Salzburg.

Russia will be hosting the Winter Olympics for the first time. Moscow hosted the Summer Olympics in 1980, but the event was marred by a U.S.-led boycott involving more than 60 countries.

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