Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Jean-Claude Killy, chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games
Transcript of a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Jean-Claude Killy (opening remarks):
Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon.
We are pleased to greet our guests from the International Olympic Committee. I want to say we are accustomed to you and look very much to your support, which we have already felt.
The Russian Government is keeping a constant eye on the Olympic project. A few weeks ago, the Cabinet approved an amendment to the Olympic construction programme, passed in December 2007. I will describe some additional decisions later, but on the whole we have decided which facilities to build and where.
Moreover, we know by name investors into practically all infrastructure projects. Federal, regional and local authorities have shared their responsibilities between them.
Recently, lawmakers have amended the budget for 2008 and increased allocations for the Sochi programme. Extra sums have been set aside for upgrading Sochi's municipal infrastructure.
The programme lists 218 projects. Four are in the works, 72 are on the drawing board, and development specifications have been agreed with the Organising Committee for another 52.
Transport and the environment are at the top of the agenda and will continue to enjoy priority. Altogether, we plan to build 35 transport and 18 nature conservation projects.
In Guatemala, I pledged that neither city residents, nor guests, nor athletes will experience travel difficulties or run into traffic jams.
Sochi as a transport hub is being entirely overhauled. Its airport is being modernised, and its sea and rail transport facilities are being further developed. A motorway is under construction to provide a detour round the city. I have inspected some of the construction sites personally.
The city will get modern flyovers, four of which are already at the design stage. Some of the transport developments and infrastructure items have been redesigned to speed up their construction and cut costs without compromising their quality. There is a shortlist of all transport projects, complete with funding earmarked and made available.
Now concerning the environment. Our core idea is to observe all environmental requirements. Sochi, its nature reserves and the biosphere preserve are our treasures. We prize them and will do everything to keep them and the place unique.
Right before this meeting I had a longish discussion with Cabinet ministers, leaders of the construction industry, and representatives of environmental non-government organisations.
All projects and all work on Olympic facilities will be conducted completely openly. All disputes will be spotted and resolved in dialogue with the environmentally minded public and international non-governmental organizations.
Today we agreed to set up a system of environmental monitoring, control and surveillance at corporate and government levels.
The Caucasian State Natural Biosphere Preserve and the Sochi National Park will receive serious injections of capital.
Also today, in the course of discussions with environmental agencies and despite the fact that some money has already been sunk into the design of a number of facilities - such as a bobsleigh and luge track and the mountain Olympic village - I decided to move these facilities to new sites as required by the agencies.
Before making the move we consulted the International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation, who decided that alternative sites could be found. Very shortly, they assured us, they would submit the necessary proposals in writing. So the matter concerns only funding and, of course, deadlines.
Olympstroi is reassuring us that all deadlines will be observed. And I have no doubt they will be.
In choosing between priorities - funding or the environment - we have opted for the environment. Our reasoning was this: a new project may be costlier, but the possible bill from nature might be so enormous as to be beyond any financial compensation. We should preserve the uniqueness of Sochi for this and future generations.
In taking today's decision, I was also guided by the ideas expressed by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge. He said that environmental considerations hold priority in Olympic construction. We hope for your support, gentlemen.
Jean-Claude Killy: Mr Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen, I must say that we are also getting used to our trips to Russia. We appreciate the warm welcome and friendly feelings we experience every time we visit Russia.
Before anything else, I would like to congratulate you on your decision because if it had not been adopted, serious long-term problems might have arisen. The decision has been well weighed and well considered, and meets the requirements for perfect Games.
Some time ago we agreed that Games of historic scale could be held in Sochi. Naturally, this decision is bringing us closer to this objective.
I would also like to mention the structures and facilities that have been built. They are of the most exclusive, highest quality in the entire history of the Olympic Games.
Last night, we had the opportunity to discuss this theme in detail with all the persons concerned. The discussion confirmed our feelings: the right people are in the right places. And we are very satisfied.
There are some problems yet to be resolved. We believe this can be done quickly enough, no matter whether they concern logistics or management. We hope the work will start soon because decisions taken today help to solve logistic and transport problems tomorrow. We have no particular concerns, perhaps with the exception of one, which we all share. We are under the impression that time is moving along too fast.
We are glad that currently all executives at all levels, be it Olympstroi, ministries or the Organising Committee, know their responsibilities and what they must do to fulfil the tasks set before them, and how they should work together.
