(ATR) Russia's deputy foreign minister declares that the campaign to bring the 2014 Winter Olympics to Sochi is a foreign policy priority.
Speaking at a press conference in Moscow to launch the international campaign of Sochi 2014, Alexander Yakovenko says "it is not only important to tell our people, but to tell the world", promising the help of the Russian government to spread the word.
Yakovenko noted that press conferences at Russian embassies in six cities around the globe were being held today along with the Moscow briefing to announce the Sochi international campaign.
The hour-long press conference at the Foreign Ministry was attended by over 120 journalists and was carried live via the Sochi 2014 websites.
The press conference panel also included deputy prime minister Alexander Zhukov, minister for sport Vyacheslav Fetisov, Russian Olympic Committee President Leonid Tyagachev, Sochi 2014 CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko, businessman Vladimir Potanin and figure skating gold medalist Evgeni Plushenko.
Appearing by via satellite link to Sochi was Mayor Viktor Kolodyazhny, who said the economic development of the Sochi region was the most important reason for him to seek the 2014 Games.
Fetisov and Tyagachev stressed the impact that new venues would have on the development of Winter Sport in the country.
Potanin, whose company Interos is already developing a resort in the mountains near Sochi, says Interos wants to invest up to $500 million on facilities that would complement a Winter Olympics in Sochi.
In response to a question from Around the Rings, Zhukov says work on completing Sochi's mothballed new airport will be underway by the time of the IOC Evaluation Commission visit in February. Zhukov said he hoped the commission would be able to arrive for their visit in the new terminal, which was nearly completed about ten years ago until money ran out to finish the project.
Zhukov downplayed security threats to a Sochi Olympics, saying "serious measures" will be in place to secure the Games.
Zhukov, who heads the government committee overseeing the Sochi bid, delivered assurances that environmental shortcomings, such as lack of sewage treatment in the mountains, "would all be resolved" as a result of the $12 billion to federal government has targeted for development in the Sochi region.
Asked about the lack of experience in Sochi for hosting winter sports events, Fetisov responded by listing a series of events hosted in Moscow, such as the figure skating world championships in 2005 and next year's ice hockey world championships.
"We have the experience," says Fetisov.
In his comments, Plushenko said "it is a dream of all Russian sports men to see the Games come to Sochi."
The slogan for the Sochi bid was announced by bid CEO Dmitry Cheryshenko.
He says "Gateway to the Future" speaks to the impact the Games would have on Sochi.
Along with the slogan, Sochi unveiled a new graphic look for its website and promotional materials.
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