Sochi Spokesperson Downplays Corruption Concerns -- On the Scene

Sochi Spokesperson Downplays Corruption Concerns

The budgets for Sochi 2014 are beyond reproach, said a spokesperson for Sochi 2014.

Speaking to Around the Rings, Aleksandra Kosterina says the Sochi 2014 budget has been under intense scrutiny from day one. That level of oversight means the corruption allegations made in the Nalvany Report are almost impossible to take place on a large scale.

Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny published an analysis of Russia’s spending for the 2014 Winter Olympics on Monday alleging that billions of dollars have been stolen and siphoned off for the benefit of top state officials.

However, Kosterina says Sochi, and other stakeholders, have a "robust, clear, and transparent" budget.

"All of the stakeholders in the Olympic project are under scrutiny from the authorities and have regular inspection," she said.

"In terms of the budget, we’ve always been very clear and transparent."

Opening Ceremony on Thursday

The coastal Olympic Village will have its opening ceremony on Thursday.

Sochi 2014 president Dmitry Chernyshenko, Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko, and Olympic Village mayor Yelena Isinbayeva are among the speakers for the event.

Festivities will kick off at 1800 in Sochi.

Also scheduled to take place are a flashmob and a performance form the band Siberiahills.

"Snow Consultant" SeesChallenges for Snow

He said the Gorki Jumping Centre will see the warmest weather during the Games.

"The ski jump is the most challenging when it comes to weather because it’s at the lowest altitude," he said. Sochi’s ski jumping competition is predicted to be "the warmest mountain event ever in the history of the Olympics."

"If it is really running warmer, it will mean a lot of work. But we will jump. We will ski. That’s for sure."

Sochi Briefs...

...Dutch-born speedskater Bram Smallenbroek will not compete in Sochi. Austrian authorities failed to grant him a new passport in time for the Games after he switched allegiances. "They have not done anything wrong, but they did not try very hard either," he told the Olympic News Service. "I think they could have done more to get me to Sochi."

...Security guards are receiving praise for their generous ways. Reports say they have returned lost coins. Additionally, "staff were also happy to look after one worker’s bags of nuts and sultanas until he returned to make his trip home."

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