The Russian Report -- Russia to Host Next Judo World Championships

Russia to Host Next Judo World Championships

Chelyabinsk, Russia will host the 2014 Judo World Championships.

The city in the Ural Mountains will receive the International Judo Federation flag on September 1 from Rio de Janeiro organizers of the 2013 event.

Moscow was originally scheduled to host the event. However, Around the Rings understands Russian President Vladimir Putin lobbied for the event to be moved to Chelyabinsk.

Sochi to Get KHL Team After 2014 Olympics - Russia GM

The lack of a top-notch arena means there is no pro team in the Black Sea resort today, but that will change with the arrival of several new facilities including the 12,000-capacity Bolshoi Ice Palace in the newly built Olympic Park.

"As far as I know, it's in the plans of the KHL to have a team here," Alexei Kasatonov said. "Naturally, these arenas should be occupied after the Olympics. It's great that there will be a program in place for them."

Kasatonov spoke on the sidelines of a training session for the Russian national team in Sochi.

The KHL is on a mission to expand as far and wide as possible, with the latest additions coming from Vladivostok, where ex-NHL great Alex Mogilny is setting up a club named Admiral, and Croatia, where Medvescak Zagreb takes the number of participating countries to eight next season.

Published by special agreement with RIA-Novosti.

Ice Hockey Coach Puts Faith in Russian Security

US men’s ice hockey coach Dan Bylsma says the security arrangement for the Sochi Olympics is "possibly the best setup ever."

Security for the bobsleigh test event in Sochi. (Getty Images) "I really think the security around the Olympic Village and around the Olympic venues is going to be unlike anything we’ve ever seen," Bylsma was quoted by RIA Novosti at the unveiling of the US 2014 Olympic hockey jersey this week.

"Having seen the Olympic Village and the setup that’s there, I’m looking to seeing possibly the best setup ever for the Winter Olympic Games in terms of the village, in terms of the area the venues will be at."

Bylsma dismissed fears that terrorist groups from Russia’s volatile North Caucasus presented a major threat to the Games.

He claimed the venues and the Olympic Village in the Black Sea resort would be "centralized," making it easier for Russian security forces to ensure athletes’ and spectators’ safety.

Written byEd Hula III.

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