Russia spends $36.7bn on Olympics preparatory eventsFebruary 1, 2013 - 17:05 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia had spent 1.1 trillion rubles ($36.7 billion) on preparatory events for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games by the start of 2013, according to documents prepared for a first meeting on Friday of the state commission responsible for preparing for the Games, RIA Novosti reported. Investors spent 737 billion rubles ($24.6 billion) of that sum on preparations for the Games, due to be held in the southern Russian resort of Sochi on the Black Sea next February. A total of 1.5 trillion rubles ($50.1 billion) is to be spent on preparatory events. More than 70 percent of the facilities required for the Olympics are now ready with just over a year to go until competition starts. The Kremlin said in mid-January that Russian President Vladimir Putin has set up a state commission to supervise preparation of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. Putin personally lobbied International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials in 2007 to ensure Russia was granted its first Winter Games. The 37-man Olympics preparation commission, which includes the entire Cabinet of ministers, as well as Sochi organizing committee officials, is led by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak. He is tasked with producing three reports, one by August 1, a second by December 31, and a third by June 1, 2014, four months after the end of the Games. Then-President Dmitry Medvedev promoted Kozak in 2008 from regional development minister to deputy prime minister in charge of preparations for the 2014 Games. A packed test-events program is taking place this year, including stages in the world cup competitions in Alpine skiing, short-track speedskating and biathlon. Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. |