"Still Plenty of Work Ahead" - Putin

(ATR) While the Sochi Olympics are getting rave reviews from the IOC and Games organizers, the most important Olympic official says there is "plenty of work ahead."

Vladimir Putin met with IOC President Thomas Bach on Saturday, where he offered his assessment of Sochi 2014.

He said "organizational work" is the main task left.

"That has to do with the maintenance of all the sports facilities in order to keep them in a condition required for holding sports competitions," Putin said in a statement on the Kremlin website.

"Besides, we have to create conditions for journalists and perform purely organizational work that has to do with transportation, power supply and so on. There are still very many things to take care of. I expect everything to proceed in the same way it has been proceeding so far.

Putin also congratulated the volunteers.

"I hear only positive assessment of their efforts."

Putin Visit for Injured Skier

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Maria Komissarova following six-and-a-half hour surgery to repair her broken back.

The Russian skicross skier was hurt during a training run on Saturday.

Komissarova told the President her father was worried about her, and Putin then called Mr. Komissarova.

"The President assured Maria’s father that the doctors will do everything possible for her recovery," a Kremlin statement said.IOC spokesman Mark Adams said she was training alone at the time of the incident and that the track is safe with a full seal of approval from the athletes.

"I know they’re very happy," Adams said.

IOC Steps Back on Dome Logos

Logos of world-wide sponsors which were arrayed on the Bolshoi Ice Dome last week will not re-appear says the IOC.

Spokesperson Benjamin Seeley says complaints were received from broadcasters who said the logos the spirit of IOC Rule 50, which requires venues to be free of advertisements.

Seeley says the IOC believes the logos can be used in this way but agreed to not use the Dome and its LED display to promote sponsors.

Observer Day at MPC

The Observer Program for upcoming Olympic Games Organizing Committees inspected the Main Media Centre and International Broadcast Centre on Sunday.

Press officials for the upcoming Games sat in on the daily briefing with the IOC and Sochi 2014 and could be seen touring the facility.

"My First Coach" Winner Named

Nearly 40 years after he started working with young people, his former students bring him their children -- and now their grandchildren – for coaching in basketball … this week, Evgenii Merkushev was named the winner of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ "My First Coach" award.

Merkushev, who hails from Krasnoyarsk in Siberia, was honored at a luncheon this week during the 2014 Games. Many of his female students have gone on to play for the national team. He says the secret to producing a champion is good communication – and being like a parent.

He is everywhere with the kids, he said, including summer camps when they are away from home for a long time. "They don’t see their parents," he explained, but "they see me."

It’s getting harder to interest young people in sports, he said, because there are so many other things to do. But his wife, Olga Viktorovna, helps get the girls involved, and he couldn’t do it without her. "We have a common way of doing things, a common process."

Wo ist Thomas?

IOC President Thomas Bach spent the night in the Mountain Village.

He is scheduled to attend speedskating this evening, subject to confirmation .

Bach spent much of Saturday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Written by Ed Hula III

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