Before the meeting, Dmitry Medvedev viewed the newly built bobsleigh track in Esto-Sadok village and snowboarding trails at the Roza Khutor Alpine Ski Resort.
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President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev: Good afternoon, colleagues. Please be seated.
We traditionally meet in Sochi shortly after the New Year to discuss the progress made on the construction of Olympic facilities.
We have just over two years until the start of the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi. Many facilities have become proper sports arenas ready for any events. Today I visited a snowboard park and a freestyle centre, where the European Cups will be held in a short while, in February, as I understand it. The Roza Khutor Alpine Ski Resort will host the Alpine Skiing World Cup for the first time in Russia’s history.
In accordance with the current international practice, test events must be held at all facilities prior to the Olympics. I draw the attention of all those present that it is imperative to organise these events.
The scope of construction is enormous. Over 800 capital construction and reconstruction projects are in progress. Apart from the sports and tourism facilities, there is also the transport, energy, communications, healthcare and utilities infrastructure.
I would like to emphasise that much of the advanced infrastructure being built will continue to function after the Olympics, to contribute to the region’s development and improve the quality of life in and around Sochi. Incidentally, nearly a third of the workers employed in construction are residents of the Southern Federal District, which is very good.
Last year, 83 facilities were commissioned and individual stages were completed at 26 sites. However, the pace of work has been uneven due to funding problems and certain other issues, including the design period, and in some cases it was down simply to poor organisation. So I would like to hear from you what you are planning to do to fully complete the work by the deadline.
Let's get to work.
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