Putin fires top Sochi Games official
Source: AFP |
February 8, 2013, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin yesterday fired a top official for delays in the construction of infrastructure for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games as Russia began the one-year countdown to the opening.
The Kremlin chief has made the Games an instrumental part of a patriotic mission to promote Russia on the world stage but cost over-runs and reports of corruption have cast a shadow over the event.
In a clear bid to tackle the issue head-on in his typical tough-guy manner, Putin sacked a senior Russian Olympic Committee official over delays to the completion of the ski jumping complex. Russian Olympics Committee deputy chief Akhmed Bilalov was fired after Putin on Wednesday personally asked who was responsible for the delay in the completion of the complex from 2011 to July this year.
"The decision about the sacking has been taken," Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak said yesterday. "People who do not carry out their obligations to such an extent cannot lead the Olympic movement of our country," Kozak said.
In a major public humiliation, Bilalov has also lost his job as the head of the development of tourist resorts for the Northern Caucasus.
Putin had expressed his fury over the delay when he visited the Russkie Gorky ski jump complex on Wednesday.
"How can it be that the vice-president of the Olympics Committee is holding back the development?" Putin fumed.
"Well done. You are really working well," he added sarcastically.
The Kremlin chief has made the Games an instrumental part of a patriotic mission to promote Russia on the world stage but cost over-runs and reports of corruption have cast a shadow over the event.
In a clear bid to tackle the issue head-on in his typical tough-guy manner, Putin sacked a senior Russian Olympic Committee official over delays to the completion of the ski jumping complex. Russian Olympics Committee deputy chief Akhmed Bilalov was fired after Putin on Wednesday personally asked who was responsible for the delay in the completion of the complex from 2011 to July this year.
"The decision about the sacking has been taken," Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak said yesterday. "People who do not carry out their obligations to such an extent cannot lead the Olympic movement of our country," Kozak said.
In a major public humiliation, Bilalov has also lost his job as the head of the development of tourist resorts for the Northern Caucasus.
Putin had expressed his fury over the delay when he visited the Russkie Gorky ski jump complex on Wednesday.
"How can it be that the vice-president of the Olympics Committee is holding back the development?" Putin fumed.
"Well done. You are really working well," he added sarcastically.
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