IOC impressed with Sochi's preparations

Moscow, Feb 9 (IANS): Delegations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) have been impressed with the preparations for the Sochi-2014 Winter Olympic Games.

A view of the Iceberg Skating Palace venue for Figure Skating at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) head Alexander Zhukov said for those who have seen Sochi several years ago it will be difficult for them to believe how the Black Sea resort city has improved for the Games, reports Xinhua.

“Everyone estimated positively what has been done here. They were impressed with the sport venues. The stadiums look incredible,” Zhukov told the media.

A delegation from IOC and NOCs of Greece, Canada, Brazil and South Korea visited the venues.

“It was an eye-opener. Not everyone believed that such an enormous infrastructure, such arenas could be created in such a short time,” said the official.

Zhukov admitted that some problems remained at several venues where the construction works fell behind schedule.

Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday ousted Akhmet Bilalov, a vice president of the ROC, from office for disruption of the construction works at the Games venues.

Still, Zhukov assured, there was no risk that any site would be unfinished by the time the Games start Feb 7, 2014.

The press centre of the Russian Olympic team was opened in Sochi Friday.