IOC: Russia’s Putin keeps Olympic pledge, releases snow leopards near Sochi

October 7th, 2009 Organizers say Sochi construction on scheduleCOPENHAGEN — Construction for the 2014 Sochi Olympics is "well on schedule" and the Black Sea resort will be ready to host skiing competitions by the end of next year, organizers said Wednesday. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak presented a report to International Olympic Committee on the progress of the project, saying that "within one year we'll be able to host the very first Alpine competition, and there'll be a ski center in place to do that." "Construction is well on schedule," Kozak said.

October 4th, 2009 IOC says no fear of backlash from US sponsorsCOPENHAGEN — The International Olympic Committee's marketing boss believes Chicago's rejection by Olympic voters will not affect the status of Illinois-based McDonald's as a leading sponsor. "(McDonald's) have told us absolutely no," IOC director of television and marketing Timo Lumme told the Associated Press on Sunday.

September 30th, 2009 IOC welcomes presidents _ but for the last time?COPENHAGEN — Senior IOC members suggest the proven winning tactic of bringing top politicians to lobby for Olympic bids could be reaching an end. The comments by Dick Pound and Jim Easton — who share 46 years' experience on the International Olympic Committee — came as Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in Copenhagen to press Rio de Janeiro's case for being awarded the 2016 games.

September 21st, 2009 Putin hangs out with the big cats: Snow leopardsMOSCOW — Once again, Vladimir Putin is hanging out with the big cats. The Russian prime minister supervised the release of two snow leopards into a wildlife sanctuary near the southern resort of Sochi, fulfilling a pledge he made before Russia won the right to host the 2014 Olympic Games.

September 18th, 2009 Volkswagen to sponsor Sochi 2014 Winter OlympicsSOCHI, Russia — Volkswagen became a sponsor of the 2014 Winter Olympics on Friday in a deal that Sochi organizers said brings total sponsorship revenues to more than $750 million. Sochi organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko signed the agreement with Dietmar Korzekwa, director general of Volkswagen Group Rus, in the Black Sea resort city.

September 16th, 2009 Obama drums up support for Chicago Olympic bidWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama staged a homecoming-style Olympic rally at the White House Wednesday, saying the whole country is rooting for his hometown of Chicago in its efforts to host the 2016 Summer Games. "Chicago is ready.

September 7th, 2009 Coe: 2016 Olympic race closer than 2012 contestLONDON — Take it from a man who should know: The race for the 2016 Olympics is as close as can be. Sebastian Coe, who engineered London's narrow victory for the 2012 Summer Games, said in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday that next month's 2016 vote is even more wide open.

September 3rd, 2009 Force India releases Fisichella to join FerrariMARANELLO, Italy — Force India has agreed to release Giancarlo Fisichella to join Ferrari for the rest of the Formula One season. Ferrari has been anxious to find a better replacement for the injured Felipe Massa after the team's longtime test driver, Luca Badoer, qualified last and finished no better than 14th in his first two races since stepping in for the Brazilian.

August 19th, 2009 Russia's Aeroflot to sponsor 2014 Sochi OlympicsMOSCOW — Russian airline Aeroflot has signed up as a domestic sponsor of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi in a deal worth more than $100 million. The carrier becomes the fifth top-tier sponsor of the games, along with telecommunication firms Rostelecom and Megafon, oil and gas company Rosneft and lender Sberbank.

July 22nd, 2009 Sochi construction costs to be 5 percent lowerMOSCOW — Construction costs for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi will be about 5 percent lower than recent estimates. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, who is spearheading preparations for the games, says the costs have been "optimized" following a budget review.

July 20th, 2009 Report: Putin hopes KHL will expand westwardMOSCOW — Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says he hopes the Kontinental Hockey League will expand to include clubs in central and western Europe. The Interfax news agency reported that Putin said the KHL, which comprises teams from Russia, Belarus, Latvia and Kazakhstan, should expand beyond the former Soviet Union and "become a pan-European league." Putin says if that does happen, it would be "without any administrative domination" by Russia, meaning that Moscow would not seek to control the league.

July 19th, 2009 Russia's Pakhalina wins 1-meter springboard divingROME — Julia Pakhalina of Russia won the gold medal in women's 1-meter springboard diving at the world championships Sunday, her first title at a worlds or Olympics in nine years. Pakhalina led from start to finish and totaled 325.05 points through the five-dive final.

July 7th, 2009 Obama sends video backing Chicago 2016 Olympic bid LONDON — President Barack Obama renewed his support for Chicago's Olympic bid Tuesday, telling African Olympic leaders in a video message the 2016 Games would give America the chance to "renew our bonds of friendship around the world." "From the beginning I have fully supported Chicago's dream of hosting the 2016 games," Obama said. "If Chicago is selected for this honor we will ensure that the Olympics and Paralympic Games are a key priority for our nation.

July 6th, 2009 NHL MVP Ovechkin takes role with 2014 Sochi GamesLONDON — NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin is offering his help to organizers of the first Winter Olympics in his native Russia. The Washington Capitals star, who has earned the Hart Trophy as league MVP the past two seasons, will be an "official ambassador" for the 2014 Sochi Games, organizers said Monday.

June 6th, 2009 Putin names new Sochi Olympics construction chiefNOVO-OGARYOVO, Russia — Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has appointed Taimuraz Bolloyev as the new construction chief for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Bolloyev replaces Viktor Kolodyazhny, who has stepped down, as chief of the state Olympstroi corporation.