Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee
Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Vladimir Putin: Mr. President, I am very pleased to meet with you and your colleagues!
I know how much work there was in preparation for the Olympics in Beijing. We expect that not only the opening ceremony, but the Games themselves will proceed at the highest level.
We see how much the International Olympic Committee is doing to advance the ideals of the Olympics, peace, friendship and cooperation in today's world.
You know that Russia is not only an active participant in the Olympic movement but also supports your initiatives at different levels, including the United Nations. We fully support you plea for a truce in all regional conflicts for the period of the Olympic Games.
Certainly I would like to use this opportunity to speak to you about our preparations for the Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Sochi in 2014. By the way, in this process we are guided by your recommendations, including in our work with environmental organizations.
Jacques Rogge: Thank you very much, Mr Prime Minister.
First, I wish to thank you for being here in Beijing at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. It is a great honour for the IOC.
I would like to wish the best of luck to the Russian team. Also, I would like to thank you for the great support that you provide to the Olympic movement, being in fact the Chairman of the Organizing Committee preparing for the Olympic Games.
At the beginning of the week we were given reports by both Mr Killy and Mr Chernyshenko. We are very pleased with the progress of preparation.
We are especially thankful to you for your decision to move some Olympic-related facilities in accordance with the ecological needs in the region.
We know that you personal opinion is in agreement with Mr Killy's position: good progress is made, and a proper pace is set, but we cannot afford to loose time.
I hope you will like the Olympics Opening Ceremony. Thank you for being here.
Vladimir Putin: Another important matter that you are aware of. We would like to begin the process of establishing an Olympic University in Russia, in Sochi. It seems to me that it is a very interesting project with high potential.
