Budget for Sochi Winter Olympics to be cut by two-thirds

October 7th, 2009 Woods, Wie lobby for golf in 2016 OlympicsTiger Woods and Michelle Wie are making a pitch for golf to enter the program for the 2016 Rid de Janeiro Olympics. Woods will address the International Olympic Committee in a videotaped message during golf's presentation in Copenhagen on Friday.

September 30th, 2009 Report: Sochi 2014 budget triples to $33 billionMOSCOW — A Russian business newspaper says the 2014 Sochi Olympics budget will be more than $33 billion, nearly triple the original estimate. The newspaper Vedomosti, citing documents from the Ministry for Regional Development, reported Tuesday about $23 billion would come from the federal budget, with the rest to come from private investors.

September 11th, 2009 Rogge doesn't expect Vancouver budget deficitLONDON — International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge is confident the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver will break even despite a budget shortfall. In an unprecedented gesture, the IOC said last month it would offer financial assistance to Vancouver's organizing committee, VANOC, if it ends up with a budget gap following the Feb.

June 2nd, 2009 Russia: No government money for Sochi in 2009-10MOSCOW — The Russian government won't finance the preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi this year and next because there is enough financial support from private investors, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov said Tuesday. Zhukov, the government official overseeing preparations in the Black Sea resort, said the funds raised by Sochi's local organizing committee have exceeded the government's expectations.

May 14th, 2009 IOC urges steady pace for 2014 Sochi GamesSOCHI, Russia — A top International Olympic Committee official says any construction delays could threaten Russia's ambitious plans for the 2014 Winter Games in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin assured the IOC on Thursday that construction and financing are on schedule.

May 13th, 2009 IOC upbeat on 2014 Winter Olympics preparationsSOCHI, Russia — A top International Olympic Committee official praised Russian organizers of the 2014 Winter Games for their "open and constructive" attitude Wednesday, while warning against any delays in preparations. Jean-Claude Killy, the Frenchman who heads the IOC panel overseeing the Sochi Games, and other members of the coordination commission are spending two days examining proposed Olympic venues and provisions for accommodation, transportation and communication at the Black Sea resort city.

May 13th, 2009 IOC hails Sochi preparations, warns against delaysSOCHI, Russia — A top International Olympic Committee official has praised Russian organizers of the 2014 Winter Games but warned against any delays in preparations. Jean-Claude Killy and the IOC's coordination commission are spending two days examining Olympic venues at the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

May 8th, 2009 Sochi Olympic construction begins as clock ticksSOCHI, Russia — A dumptruck decorated with a Russian flag rattles down a dirt track on a massive fenced-in field, kicking up a plume of dust. In less than five years, somewhere in this expanse of short grass, stones and weeds by the Black Sea, the 2014 Winter Olympics are to open with a ceremony watched worldwide.

May 6th, 2009 Sochi organizer says plans ahead of scheduleGENEVA — The chief organizer of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi says that preparations in the Russian city are ahead of schedule and financing for the games is secure. The Black Sea resort and routes to the nearby mountains are "a huge construction site," organizing committee head Dmitry Chernyshenko said on Wednesday.

April 26th, 2009 Candidate from Putin's party headed to Sochi winSOCHI, Russia — An election official says the candidate from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's party has won Sunday's mayoral vote in 2014 Olympic host city Sochi. An opposition candidate called the vote a fraud.

April 26th, 2009 Russia's Olympic city Sochi elects mayorSOCHI, Russia — The Kremlin favorite was headed to an overwhelming victory in Sunday's mayoral election in the Russian city that will host the 2014 Winter Olympics, according to partial results released by an election official. An opposition candidate, however, called the vote a fraud.

April 23rd, 2009 SKorean city to launch 3rd bid for Winter OlympicsSEOUL, South Korea — Pyeongchang will bid for the third consecutive time to host the Winter Olympics. The South Korean Olympic committee chose the alpine city of Pyeongchang to bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics in a 30-13 vote, committee spokesman Kim Yong said Thursday.

March 26th, 2009 LONDON - The 2010 Winter Olympics has forced the Oscars to be held in March that year, instead of the usual February. The 82nd Annual Academy Awards will be handed out March 7, to avoid clashing any competition with the skiing and skating at the sports gala, reports contactmusic.com.

February 15th, 2009 MOSCOW - The Russian government has instructed ministries to cut spending by another 15 percent on top of the 15 percent budget cuts approved late last year, a business paper reported Monday. Budget cuts will affect all budget fund recipients, except courts.

January 30th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, has assured the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that his government remains fully committed to financing the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi despite the global economic crisis. Putin said Saturday at a meeting with the Games' IOC coordinator Jean-Claude Killy in Sochi that the financing of the Games was secured in the State budget.