'Sochi 2014 to be most high-tech Games ever', says Olympic Committee chief

Sochi, Feb 9 (IANS): Russian Olympic Committee chief Alexander Zhukov says the Sochi 2014 Winter Games will be the most technologically advanced.

President Vladimir Putin this week toured the facilities and gave a speech at a ceremony marking one year before the start of the Olympics.

Russian president Vladimir Putin speaks during the ‘Sochi 2014 – One Year To Go’ ceremony at Bolshoi Ice Dome on February 7, 2013 in Sochi, Russia.

“We inspected all the facilities in the Olympic Park,” Zhukov said Friday.

“When we made our application, we promised the Sochi Games would be one of the most high-tech. I think these Games will be the best in terms of IT and TV equipment,” he said.

The Russian host broadcaster is deploying 12 multi-camera vans known as outside broadcast units for the Games.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, present at the ceremony, expressed confidence that the city, which is building everything from scratch, would be ready to host the Olympics.

All sporting facilities are ready for competition except the RusSki Gorki ski jump complex, which should be finished by July. The Ice Cube curling centre is prepared but yet to be commissioned.

The Fisht Olympic Stadium, which will only host the opening and closing ceremonies, is still under construction because there is no competition deadline.