Putin calls for one last Olympic push

Sochi, Feb 8 (IANS): Russian president Vladimir Putin has called on Sochi 2014 Olympic organisers to redouble their efforts in one final push to stage the Games without a hitch.

SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEB 07: Russian president Vladimir Putin and IOC Member Jean-Claude Killy attend performance of Sochi 2014 – One Year To Go in ‘Bolshoi’ Ice Dome.

“In order to make the success complete, we still need to work intensively, redoubling our efforts,” he said on a visit to the Olympic Park Thursday, exactly a year before the opening ceremony of Russia’s first Winter Olympics.

“Far from all the construction work is finished, there’s still work to be done. Yes, it’s the final stage, yes, there’s no panic. Even where we have small delays, everything can still be overcome but every bit of strength has to be tapped. There’s a need to work,” Putin said.

Earlier, criticism from Putin led to a senior official being fired from his post at the Russian Olympic Committee for delays in the construction of ski jump facilities. The president had spent the day touring Olympic sites, including the Olympic village and several venues at the Olympic Park, including the slightly delayed curling centre.