IOC praises Russia’s preparations for 2014 Winter Olympics, but warns against delays

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 20th, 2009 White House sends team to Olympic meeting siteWASHINGTON — The White House is sending an advance team to Copenhagen, Denmark, to make preparations in case President Barack Obama decides to attend the International Olympic Committee's meeting there next month, an administration official says. The committee will choose a host city for the 2016 summer Olympics during the Oct.

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 16th, 2009 Prague out of race to host 2020 Summer OlympicsPRAGUE — Prague will not enter the race to host the 2020 Summer Olympics as planned due to the global economic crisis. The city council of the Czech capital voted 11-0 Tuesday to cancel preparations for the bid, said Marketa Reedova, deputy mayor and council member.

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 20th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Suresh Kalmadi has said that the executive board of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) expressed satisfaction with the games infrastructure coming up in the city. "As you are all aware the CGF was here for the whole of last week.

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 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 27th, 2009 Kremlin pick wins Sochi mayoral electionSOCHI, Russia — The Kremlin favorite won an overwhelming victory in Sunday's mayoral election in the Russian city that will host the 2014 Winter Olympics, the top election official said. An opposition candidate called the vote a fraud and vowed to challenge the result.

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.

April 19th, 2009 Chair of IOC panel praises Tokyo 2016 bidTOKYO — The chairwoman of the International Olympic Committee's evaluation commission on Sunday said its members were "most impressed" by Tokyo's bid to host the 2016 Summer Games. Nawal el Moutawakel praised the city's vision, concept and high quality presentation, while at a news conference marking the end of the IOC team's four-day inspection of Tokyo.

February 25th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russia will slash financing toward preparing for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi by near two-thirds this year as it feels the heat of the market crunch. Regional development minister Viktor Basargin was quoted by Russian news agencies that 33.2 billion roubles ($923 million) would be stripped from the 49.8-billion-roubles construction budget for the firm Olympstroi in 2009.