Russia Says Abkhazia No Threat To 2014 Olympics

(RFE/RL) July 13, 2007 -- A top Kremlin official says the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict will not disrupt the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi.

The Russian presidential property manager, Vladimir Kozhin, said on July 12 that Georgia's conflict with its breakaway region of Abkhazia, near Sochi, will be over by 2014.

Abkhazia is not officially recognized by any country but receives wide support from Moscow.

The International Olympic Committee on July 5 chose Sochi to host the 2014 Winter Games.

(Interfax, ITAR-TASS)

The Pride Of Russia

CELEBRATING THE VICTORY: Russians woke up on July 5 to hear the news that their Black Sea resort town of Sochi had been chosen to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, beating Salzburg in Austria and Pyeongchang in South Korea. Muscovites told RFE/RL's Chloe Arnold how delighted they were at the decision.

Dima, a Moscow student:
"It's really good for us. They chose Russia, so that's great. It's better that the games are held somewhere in Russia. Actually, I think it would be better to split this money in half."

Elgucha, 33, driver, pictured with his 2-year-old daughter, Katya:
"Sochi won? I didn't know! Really, I didn't expect it. I didn't know the result -- I've only found out from you, and I'm happy. I think maybe they'll deliver the money -- I think since they've promised to, they'll have to deliver it."

Lyudmila Valentinovna, 69, annotator at the House of Composers:
"What do you think? That they should have eliminated us?! There's currently nowhere for our atheletes to train, no proper mountains. But for me it wasn't a surprise. We'd been hoping we'd win. But, of course, no one really thought it could turn out like this."

Sergei, 59, technical director:
"It's good -- let [Sochi] hold the games! Actually, a friend of mine said they'd never give the games to Sochi. But he was wrong. So for me it was a surprise; it was truly amazing."