Russia to Share Experience in Building Infrastructure for Sochi Olympics

The leading experts in infrastructure building will discuss Russia’s experience in implementing transport infrastructure projects for the Sochi Olympics at the international forum titled “Construction, Innovation and Partnership. Open Dialogue” which opened in Sochi on Thursday.

“The central topic will be the implementation of major transport infrastructure programs in Russia and abroad. Main focus will be made on Russia’s experience in preparing the transport infrastructure for the Sochi Olympics and its subsequent use,” the city authorities said in a statement.

According to the press release, the participants will also discuss urgent issues of the transport industry, including the application of the advanced technologies, implementation of environmental safety projects and the issues regarding the investment for the projects.

International Cooperation Thwarts Terrorist Attacks in Sochi

A cooperative effort made by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) with its international counterparts thwarted a series of planned terrorist attacks at the Sochi Winter Olympics. This was announced by FSB Chief Aleksandr Bortnikov.

“One of the examples is joint efforts by the FSB and its colleagues from the United States, Austria, France, Germany and Georgia in relation to a group of people planning terrorist attacks on Olympic venues in Sochi. Together with our foreign counterparts, we managed to thwart these attacks,” Mr. Bortnikov stated, noting that terrorism is currently understood to be a transnational crime.

Mr. Bortnikov also said the country is currently reviewing legislation in order to increase the effectiveness of counterterrorism.

“In the wake of recent events in Syria, new norms have been introduced to the country’s legal code stipulating harsh punishment for training in terrorist camps, as well as setting up, leading or financing terrorist organizations,” he said, adding that 28 terrorist attacks have already been averted this year by a series of counterterrorism operations conducted by Russian security forces under the supervision of the National Anti-Terrorist Committee.

Kalashnikov Concern to Produce Rifles for Russian Biathletes

The Trainers’ Council of the Russian Biathlon Union has made a decision that the Kalashnikov Concern will produce rifles for the Russian national biathlon team starting with this year. According to media reports, around 200 rifles are to be manufactured in 2014.
It should be noted that Izmash, the basis of the Kalashnikov Concern, manufactured rifles for biathletes in the Soviet times. The most perfect example of a special rifle is the BI-7-4 manufactured in the capital of Udmurtia. This model was ordered by the Russian Biathlon Union. In 2009, Mikhail Prokhorov, President of the Russian Biathlon Union, declared that he was ready to give Izhmash a chance to reclaim its position in the Russian biathlon and purchase 30 rifles.
At the Sochi Olympics, Olga Vilukhina and Evgeny Garanichev won silver and bronze medals with the rifles manufactured by Kalashnikov Concern. In the near future, the company will also start producing the rifles ordered by the Norwegian Biathlon Association.

Russian Aerobatic Teams Performing for Paralympic Torchbearers

The Paralympic flame is parading across Russia. On Sunday, torchbearers could be spotted in such Moscow landmarks as the All-Russian Exhibition Center, Luzhniki stadium, Square of Europe, and finally they were welcomed by the Swifts aerobatic team at the Kubinka airbase near Moscow. The pilots showed their best on MiG-29 jet fighters at super low altitudes. First, four MiGs floated in the diamond formation over the Flame Bowl and then showcased oblique loops, barrel rolls and other stunts.

“We are all so glad to take part in this special event to honor our Paralympians and torchbearers. The entire group admires their will and spirit, so we are proud to be part of this,” Lieutenant Colonel Sergey Osayikin stated.

“Pilots were happy just to be part of the relay, it is crucial both for us and the entire Russia, so I think the show didn’t leave anyone indifferent. I admire our Paralympians, wish them every success, worthy rivals and victories,” Commander of the Russian Knights Andrey Alexeev, who was a torchbearer, commented. The flame will travel to another 45 cities in eight federal districts of Russia to join in Sochi on March 5.

Main Sochi Olympic Torch Operates without Hitch

The burning device of the Olympic Flame Cauldron, which was manufactured by Kuznetsov factory, worked without any failures. This information was presented by the company’s press center.

“The Samara-based factory started work on the project in April 2013, and the burning device, which had been designed and manufactured from scratch, was delivered to Sochi by September 2013,” the press service stated.

Under the technical assignment, the flame of the main Olympic torch had to reach a height of over 50 meters with regard to possible extreme weather conditions.

“In order to meet these requirements, the factory conducted a few tests of the torch and even subjected it to hurricane force winds by means of the NK-12MA aircraft engine,” the company explained.

It’s worth mentioning that a group of factory designers and testers has been sent to Sochi to test the burning device in the Olympic Flame Cauldron and prepare it for the Paralympic Games, which are due to start on March 7.

Russian FSB to Provide Best Security at Sochi Olympics

Employees of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) have established a security control center for the Sochi Olympics, which includes dozens of representatives of various ministries and agencies, according to Alexey Lavrishchev, Head of the Control Center Administration.

“The security center of the Olympics comprises the heads of over 30 ministries, agencies and bodies of Krasnodar Region and Sochi administration. As of today, no real threats to the security of the Olympics participants and guests exist. However, all potential threats have been considered in the framework of ensuring security at the Olympics and we are ready to react to any challenges to security,” Mr. Lavrishchev said at a news conference.

It should be noted that about 40,000 employees of the law enforcement authorities and other security agencies ensure the Olympic Games security. The FSB has taken into account the experience accumulated by foreign colleagues on ensuring security while holding major international events.

Russia to Ensure Maximum Safety at Winter Olympics

Russia’s Unified System of Prevention and Response to Emergency Situations has already proven its effectiveness, and its main goal this year is to ensure safety during the upcoming Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in the Russian city of Sochi. This came in a statement by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

“The Unified Emergency Prevention and Response System has been proven to be effective and reliable in very difficult situations,” Mr. Medvedev stated at a national session of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Region. The Russian Prime Minister noted that this system’s mechanism was actually working and helped save human lives.

“This year is setting new challenges for this system. The main event both on a national and global scale is the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Unified Emergency Prevention and Response System will work together with other agencies to enhance security during this international sports event,” Mr. Medvedev pointed out.

Russia to Use Advanced Systems for Sochi Olympics Security

Russia has positioned several of its Tor-M air defence systems to protect the venues of the 22^nd Winter Olympics that will open in the southern resort of Sochi in February. The Tor-M is a tactical weapon designed for detecting, tracking and destroying all kinds of ballistic and cruise missiles, aerial bombs, drones and conventional aircraft.

Therefore, the Tor-Ms will join Buk-M1, S-300PS, S-300PM and also three longer-range S-300V4 missile batteries, which were procured by the Russian Defence Ministry in 2012. From the sea, Sochi’s sky will be protected by Russian naval frigates armed with M-22 Uragan surface-to-air missiles. The squadrons of Su-24 bombers, Su-25 ground attack jets, Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters, MiG-31 interceptor fighters and Mi-8, Mi-24 and Mi-28 helicopters are based near the town of Krymsk.

It’s necessary to point out that the deployments follow the orders issued by Air Forces and Air Defence Commander of the Southern Military District General Andrey Yudin. On the ground, the Sochi area is being patrolled by police, interior forces, army troops and units of the Federal Security Service.

Russia Ready to Send Olympic Torch into Space

The Soyuz TMA-11M spacecraft was hoisted into place at a launch pad of the Baikonur Cosmodrome ahead of a mission to take three astronauts to the manned International Space Station. The crew consisting of Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin, NASA’s Richard Mastracchio and Koichi Wakata of Japan, is set to blast off on Thursday.

The Soyuz will be carrying an unlit Olympic torch, making for the most eye-catching part of a grand relay taking place ahead of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games. The torch will be taken on a brief spacewalk by Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kotov and Sergey Ryazansky.

The arrival of the Soyuz TMA-11M will take the number of people on the ISS to nine for the first time since October 2009 without the US shuttle, which was definitively retired in the middle of 2011. The main purpose of the spacewalk will be to prepare the station for the arrival of the Russian Multi-Purpose Laboratory Module. Luca Parmitano, an Italian astronaut with European Space Agency, Russia’s Fyodor Yurchikhin and NASA’s Karen Nyberg are set to return to earth on Sunday.

Sochi to Host ‘Greenest’ Winter Olympic Games

The Sochi Olympic Games will become the “greenest” winter Olympic Games. The organizers are seeking to set a technological record, placing only the best equipment at the Olympic facilities, equipping them with the most up-to-date energy-saving and air-purification systems, and providing the best snow and ice to the participants.

On the mountain peaks of the Rosa Khutor Ski Resort artificial snow is being kept under special membranes, which prevents it from melting. The same facilities are put along the skiing and biathlon tracks there. And snow cannons are placed near the sports facilities.

Many more technology decisions were taken to build the arenas of the Sochi coastal cluster. For example, the Olympic stadium “Bolshoi” can supply electricity to itself, due to solar batteries its roof is covered by. Besides, a sophisticated air-purification system is hidden under its roof and in its walls. All microbes will be destroyed by special filters of the ventilation. However, the main thing here is that after all these technologies are tested at the Sochi Olympics, they will be used in everyday life.