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Russian government vowed to ensure security at Sochi Olympics

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev: everyone is working as hard as possible
Photo ITAR-TASS/ Valeriy Sharifulin
Photo ITAR-TASS/ Valeriy Sharifulin

MOSCOW, November 1 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian government will do everything for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games to be safe, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.

“We realize that any events of the kind always present a set of problems. It is the necessity for the state that hosts Olympics to take comprehensive security measure,” he said in the interview with Reuters, adding that all, including security services, were working hard.

Attempts of security services will overcome security threats and can guarantee safety at the Olympics in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, the prime minister said, noting that Russia had taken a number of safety measures around the city, which borders the volatile North Caucasus region where Islamist insurgents wage nearly daily violence.

"A number of threats exist in our country, so everyone is working as hard as possible - the special forces are working, and the government as a whole is trying to guarantee the absolute safety of the Olympic Games," he said.

"And I believe that's what will happen. But it's clear that we should take a number of other decisions to make sure that these Games are held without a hitch, so that they will be remembered as a spectacular sporting event."

He did not specify what those measures were.

Spending on the February Games is expected to pass $50 billion, and they are a priority for President Vladimir Putin who wants to use it to showcase the country's modern face to the world two decades after the fall of the Soviet Union, Reuters notes.

The site of the Games is very interesting as the city of Sochi is situated in the subtropics, Medvedev said, adding that when the idea was formulated, it seemed extravagant even to him.

“I am sure the games would be very interesting,” he said. A new sport and tourism environment has been created, he noted.

“So, we invite you to our southern city of Sochi,” the Russian premier concluded.