Preparations for Sochi Olympics to be completed in time, at high level - Kozak
SOCHI. Sept 16 (Interfax) - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak said he would follow closely the timelines of preparations for the Sochi Olympics and make sure they were observed. He will also see that financial responsibility for timeline violations would be used when necessary.
"It is necessary to put into service the remaining 130 facilities, they are at a high level of completion but considered complete only after being put into service," Kozak said at a meeting held by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.
"It is premature to remove the issue of construction from the agenda, there are certain details, which are to be settled," Kozak said. The deputy prime minister said that the case where it was necessary to enhance lighting at a ready facility following the order of the International Olympic Committee served as an example.
However, as of today, "the main emphasis is shifted from construction to operative readiness of all management systems, the readiness of the city and service sector," Kozak said.
The International Investment Forum in Sochi is to be held in late September in the Coastal Cluster and facilities should completed by this time, Kozak said. "Bringing Sochi to single architectural appearance should be completed, the city administration is responsible for this and it is necessary to show vigor and firmness so that the city looks like an Olympic capital," he said.
Energy supply to the Olympics requires special attention and headquarters headed by the energy minister has been established with this purpose, Kozak said.
"The total control over the entire service sector has been established - [Russian consumer rights watchdog] Rospotrebnadzor is inspecting food joints and shops," the deputy prime minister said.
The preparations for the Olympics will be completed on time. "A total of 144 days left until the Olympics and I am certain that we will do everything at a high level, Russia will deliver properly," Kozak said.
Kozak gave Putin a short tour of the main operation center, from which all services for preparing and holding the Olympics are held. Large-scale drills were held there today in order to train actions in several emergency situations - "competition" in the Mountain Cluster has been transferred under the International Olympic Committee "order" due to bad weather.
The Organizing Committee employees told Putin that plans of actions amid several dozen emergency situations had been developed and repair brigades and "equipment stock" had been formed.