Sochi Mayor Viktor Kolodyazhny is moving to head up Olympstroy, the state agency responsible for Olympic construction. (ATR)
(ATR) The head of Sochi 2014 is delivering assurances that a sudden change of leadership at the state corporation overseeing Olympic construction will not delay preparations for the Games.
Dmitry Chernyshenko moved quickly to quell fears about the Olympic project after Semen Vainshtok was replaced by mayor of Sochi Viktor Kolodyazhny as head of Olympstroy.
In a statement Thursday he thanked Vainshtok for his "outstanding work establishing the Olympstroy State Corporation."
"He has successfully fulfilled all of his objectives and created a strong leadership team who will deliver the infrastructure needed to host an outstanding Winter Games," Chernyshenko said.
"Sochi 2014 is on schedule and budget and the first phase of construction is already at an advanced stage in the mountains, with 27 additional construction projects due to commence this year."
Vainshtok's sudden departure comes just days before the International Olympic Committee's coordination commission for Sochi makes its first visit to the Black Sea resort.
Vainshtok was in the job for a little over six months.
Chernyshenko said Kolodyazhny was an "excellent choice" to head up Olympstroy as a veteran of the Russian construction industry, saying he had been given "a responsible and pivotal role preparing for the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games."
Itar-Tass reports that Vladimir Afanasyev has been appointed acting Sochi mayor. He was the deputy head of administration of the Krasnodar Territory for preparing Sochi for the Olympics.
Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov was quoted in reports saying Vainshtok had asked to step down. Vainshtok reportedly said he had fulfilled the obligations he took on in creating the corporation.
Sochi will start building infrastructure from a modest base. (Getty Images)
Other reports said it was a planned replacement.
But some observers claim Vainshtok resigned due to major problems facing the project.
The Russian government has allocated a $13 billion budget for Olympic venues and infrastructure.
Last month Vainshtok suggested that preparations for the Olympics would cost three times more than initial estimates. Sochi is building mostly from scratch.
Ivan Blokov, campaign director of Greenpeace Russia, told Russian media Thursday that Vainshtok quit to avoid responsibility for the unrealistic timetable of Olympic preparations.
"I think he quit after realizing that he is not able to build Olympic venues on funds allocated and within the timeframe set," Blokov was quoted as saying.
IOC inspectors will next week seek assurances that the change at Olympstroy will not impact the pace of preparations.
Construction issues will be scrutinised in meetings with Sochi 2014 officials as part of the three-day inspection visit from April 22 to 24.
Chernyshenko and Russian deputy prime minister Alexander Zhukov will be among the Sochi and government figures presenting to the IOC.
Meetings will cover all the functional areas of Games preparations. The IOC delegation led by Jean-Claude Killy will also tour some of the sites for the Olympics.
Environmental concerns over the impacts of Olympic construction will also be under Jean-Claude Killy heads the IOC co-ordination commission for Sochi visiting the Black Sea resort next week. (Getty Images)
fierce scrutiny.
Greenpeace Russia and the World Wildlife Fund are leading protests against plans to build the bobsleigh venue in the Krasnaya Polyana mountains, warning they could destroy the natural habitats of animals and ruin the landscape.
Sochi organizers have moved to calm fears over environmental concerns by announcing the formation of the Public Ecological Council, designed to deliver a 'green' Games and sustainable legacy
The council is made up of Sochi 2014 organizers and senior environmental experts from NGOs including Greenpeace Russia and the WWF.
It held its first meeting in Moscow Wednesday.
"Environmental protection, but also enhancement, are key priorities for the Sochi 2014 organising committee," said Chernyshenko.
"We are very keen to listen to informed views on environmental matters from a broad range of experts.
"The first meeting of the Public Ecological Council is the start of a long and vitally important dialogue that will help to ensure Sochi 2014 delivers a lasting green legacy for the people of Sochi and a benchmark for Russia and other Olympic Games."
Sochi 2014 said environmental guidelines and recommendations will be developed and further discussed as part of ongoing preparations and planning for the Olympics.
The council will meet again in June.
With reporting from Mark Bisson . For general comments or questions,
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