July 7, 2008 – Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has put forth a proposal to relocate several of the 2014 Sochi Olympic venues to sooth environmental concerns. Despite the increase in construction costs related to the relocation, Putin – a believer in the Olympic movement – has put the environment ahead of financial concerns.

“I consider it necessary to relocate these facilities, including the Olympic village in the mountains, the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track, and the water intake structure, to other places agreed upon with the International Olympic Committee,” said Putin in an article in Russia Today. Putin is further quoted as saying, “When choosing between money and the environment, we give priority to the environment.”

The center of the environmental debate is ski resort of Krasnaya Polyana. Able to handle multiple events new roads would have disrupted animal migrations as well as development encroaching on a nearby nature reserve.

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