IOC President Addresses Sochi 2014 Critics

Thomas Bach says he has full confidence in the Russian authorities to deliver a safe Games and ensure they are free of sexual discrimination.

In a 40-minute conference call with reporters Monday, the German was bombarded with questions about Games security amid repeated threats by Islamic militants saying they are targeting the Olympics.

Asked what is keeping him awake at night before his first Olympics as IOC president, Bach said, "I am sleeping very well. Fear is a very bad adviser and not a category in which I think."

"I knew about the challenges of this office as [president] before I decided to run," he told reporters, "therefore I am really looking forward to these first Winter Games under my presidency and I am very confident they will be successful."

His message to athletes and spectators was clear enough: "Have confidence in the Russian authorities and recognize what has been done in all these years, and particularly the last couple of months, to secure the Olympic area.

"You can be sure that the Russians will be doing everything to welcome everybody and make them feel comfortable."

Bach attempted to bat away the concerns that have overshadowed Sochi 2014’s preparations – the reported $51 billion cost of the Games, questions about Russian corruption in the building of venues, and the anti-gay law that has sparked outrage among human rights groups.

Bach said the atmosphere was building up in Sochi, with "excellent conditions" for athletes in the sports venues and Olympic Village. There is plenty of snow already with more on the way later this week.

"We always have before the Games political discussions and concerns," he said.

He denied that the political issues would undermine the sports program that kicks off the day after the Feb. 7 opening ceremony.

He said, "It will become clearer and clearer that the Olympics is about athletes and sports ... we will see that at the opening ceremony and when the sports competition starts."

As gay rights groups prepare to descend on Sochi to protest the country’s anti-gay law, which bans the promotion of homosexuality to minors, the prospect of athlete protests looms large.

Bach echoed his recent comments on the controversial law, saying the IOC had received assurances from Russia that the Olympic Charter "will be respected and that means, in the Games, no discrimination for whatever reasons and no discrimination for sexual orientation".

Commenting on the IOC’s stance if athletes chose to protest the law on the podium, Bach made it clear that the Games "cannot be used as a stage for political demonstrations, however good the cause may be."

"The IOC will take if necessary individual decisions based on individual cases," he said, adding that athletes should also enjoy the freedom of speech.

"In press conferences, if they want to make a political statement, they are absolutely free to do so."

Allegations of corruption linked to the Sochi Olympics tainted their organization. Further accusations of corruption emerged Monday, made by Russia’s top opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who has launched a website to publish information alleging inflated prices for at least 10 venues.

Bach said Sochi 2014 organizers had dealt with "concrete accusations" of corruption and refuted the suggestion that the Olympic brand had been damaged from a string of reports out of Russia alleging rampant corruption around the Games project.

"People realize we are fighting against any kind of corruption," he said, adding that people knew to make a difference between "general claims" and those based on fact.

Despite the problems that have dogged Russian organizers, Bach naturally said Sochi deserved the Games and the chance to become a force as a winter sports destination.

Given Bach’s push to reduce the scale and cost of the Olympics – manifesto pledges that will be discussed at next week’s IOC Session – he was asked by Around the Rings if the Sochi Games, built from scratch at a reported $51 billion, was the end of gigantism for the Olympics.

He said only that Russia, like other countries and regions bidding to develop their winter sports infrastructure, had the right to invest to deliver winter sports resorts to compete with the best in western Europe.

Written by Mark Bisson

Homepage photo courtesy of Getty Images

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