Main item of the agenda – On the readiness to host the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Dmitry Medvedev’s opening remarks
Report by Minister of Sport Vitaly Mutko
Report by Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Mikhail Men
Report by Alexander Tkachyov, Governor of the Krasnodar Territory
Transcript:
Government meeting
Dmitry Medvedev: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.
Before we start discussing our agenda, I would like to remind you that, under Presidential instructions, each federal executive agency has approved its respective five-year working plan. This was done in June 2013. The task was clear – to formulate policy priorities and to determine specific indicators. I would like to note that various documents can be easily accessed. Naturally, I expect the ministries and departments to report on their 2013 results, including setbacks. This data should also be open to the public, and public hearings held.
We have entered 2014, and I’d like to once again wish a Happy New Year to everyone whom I have not seen. A new budget cycle has commenced, and new objectives have been set. It is important that our plans meet our real potential and current requirements. So, we need to amend ministerial and departmental programmes wherever necessary. These documents should be adjusted completely by March 2014, and I’m asking the Deputy Prime Ministers to organise this. If necessary, we can meet at my place later and clarify it completely.
Dmitry Medvedev: "We must be absolutely confident that the specific guarantees of the Russian Government and the Olympic Bid Book will be unconditionally fulfilled. Numerous preparatory and oversight events have been held. The President is monitoring this issue constantly. In December and in January, I personally inspected a number of Olympic facilities in the Coastal and Mountain Clusters. Virtually all of them are ready, they have been subjected to serious inspections during national and international sport trials. And, on the whole, everything works."
Minister of Sport Vitaly Mutko reports at the Government meeting
And now let’s look at the agenda. The first item deals with a world-class and exceptional national event, the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, which are set to start in 22 days. Today, we will hear a report on the current status, how the organisational work has been implemented, how the competitions themselves are organised, and how the transport system, energy system and the entire infrastructure will function. In any event, we must be absolutely confident that the specific guarantees of the Russian Government and the Olympic Bid Book will be unconditionally fulfilled. Numerous preparatory and oversight events have been held. The President is monitoring this issue constantly. In December and in January, I personally inspected a number of Olympic facilities in the Coastal and Mountain Clusters. Virtually all of them are ready, they have been subjected to serious inspections during national and international sport trials. And, on the whole, everything works.
In addition (although this is probably no less important for Russia), a modern sport, transport, energy, communications, healthcare and hotel infrastructure has been created in Sochi. A barrier-free environment has been established, safety standards have been introduced at all facilities, and an environmental protection programme has been implemented. No matter what you might hear, the city has changed. It has become more comfortable, and, generally, has acquired a much improved architectural image in many respects.
The assembly of the temporary infrastructure is now being completed, and the last Olympic facilities are being opened. Our colleagues will now report on this.
We should focus on the most important issues (I won’t even comment on security issues now; they’ll be addressed separately), specifically, interaction between the emergency services and the provision of medical assistance. I don’t want to make any trite comments, but obviously the stay of our guests in Sochi should be both comfortable and safe.
Ticket sales and the implementation of a flexible pricing policy are a separate issue, which will also be discussed. But what I want to say about this is that people from various Russian regions and with various income levels should be able to attend the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Dmitry Medvedev: "We have to start preparing to carry out the programme for the post-Olympic use of these new facilities. The modern infrastructure that has been created for the games must serve the interests of regional development and improve living standards after the Olympics. We must make sure that the city of Sochi will turn into a modern world-class resort, to be open all year round, and into a centre for tourism, leisure and sport."
And the last thing that I want to say in this connection at the beginning of our meeting. We have to start preparing to carry out the programme for the post-Olympic use of these new facilities. The modern infrastructure that has been created for the games must serve the interests of regional development and improve living standards after the Olympics. We have repeatedly met to discuss this issue, its legal and regulatory aspects. We have held such discussions at the level of the administrative agencies and also with the involvement of the business community. We must make sure that the city of Sochi will turn into a modern world-class resort, to be open all year round, and into a centre for tourism, leisure and sport.
And of course, the volunteer movement, whose development was expedited by the Olympic Games, should also serve as an example of our post-Olympic heritage.
Those responsible for this issue will report today; we’ll hear several reports by Government officials, and our invited guests will also speak, including the Governor of the Krasnodar Territory and the President of the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee. We have a lot of things to discuss today.
Also, I’d like to dwell on one more issue, namely, bonuses for those who have an excellent academic record, and who achieved outstanding research results. I’d like to remind you that since 2012 we pay 3,000 Presidential stipends and 10,000 Government stipends to the most successful fulltime undergraduate and postgraduate students receiving education in high-priority areas of Russian economic modernisation and technological development.
Today, we’ll discuss the allocation of funding for the payment of these stipends at higher educational institutions in the regions and municipalities during the next eight months. The federal budget stipulates funding for these purposes.
Naturally, we’ll discuss a number of other issues.
Let’s start with the Olympics. Minister of Sport Vitaly Mutko has the floor. Please.
Minister of Sport Vitaly Mutko reports at the Government meeting
Vitaly Mutko: Mr Medvedev, colleagues. As you have noted, less than a month remains until the start of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Russia has been preparing for this world-class event since 2007.
The Government of the Russian Federation and organisers of the Games have taken all necessary measures to ensure that the participants from all over the world and millions of spectators will enjoy an unforgettable sports festival, which will go down in the history of the Olympic Games. The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games will be held from February 7 to 23, and the Paralympic Games from March 7 to 16. These will be the first Winter Games in Russia. They will draw a record number of participants and will hold the greatest number of medal events.
Vitaly Mutko: "About 6,000 participants and officials will be participating in the Olympic Games, including 3,000 athletes from over 90 countries. The Paralympics will have over 1,400 participants, including 700 Paralympic athletes from over 40 countries. Ninety-eight medal events will be held in 13 Olympic sports and 72 medal events will be held in six Paralympic sports."
About 6,000 participants and officials will be participating in the Olympic Games, including 3,000 athletes from over 90 countries. The Paralympics will have over 1,400 participants, including 700 Paralympic athletes from over 40 countries. Ninety-eight medal events will be held in 13 Olympic sports and 72 medal events will be held in six Paralympic sports.
The Games will be held on 13 modern athletic grounds located in the mountain and coastal cluster in Sochi. The athletes will stay in three Olympic villages. Notably, the Games will be attended by more than 1 million people. About 3 billion people will watch the TV coverage of the Games.
Vitaly Mutko: "The Games will be attended by more than 1 million people. About 3 billion people will watch the TV coverage of the Games."
Today, we can confidently say that the guarantees provided by the Government with regard to preparing and holding the Games have mostly been honoured in strict compliance with IOC requirements. This includes financing the construction of the necessary infrastructure, providing free entry and free movement within Russia for accredited individuals, providing security measures, medical and customs services, sports and non-sports facilities, protecting commercial rights, and several other guarantees.
In order to implement the government guarantees, federal laws on organising and holding the Olympic and the Paralympic Games in Sochi and developing Sochi as a mountain resort, and on a State Corporation for Olympic Construction, as well as about 115 other legal acts have been passed. The Government has issued about 700 directives regarding the implementation of this project. The Government adopted a special programme for Olympic construction and for developing Sochi as a mountain resort in order to build the infrastructure in Sochi and hold the Games. A similar programme was adopted by the Government of the Krasnodar Territory. My colleagues, Mikhail Men and Alexander Tkachyov, will report on the implementation of these programmes.
Vitaly Mutko: "A clear-cut multilevel system of management that combines the activities of over 30 federal departments and agencies has been created as part of the preparations for the Games. The Krasnodar Territory Administration has established an organising committee, a transport authority and a single information centre."
A clear-cut multilevel system of management that combines the activities of over 30 federal departments and agencies has been created as part of the preparations for the Games. The Krasnodar Territory Administration has established an organising committee, a transport authority and a single information centre. A dedicated broadcasting company, Sports Broadcasting, was established in order to broadcast the Games. A State Commission on Preparation for the Games, led by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak was set up in accordance with a presidential executive order. The commission oversees the work of a coordination headquarters and six other headquarters that oversee work in different areas. They coordinate their efforts, and their work is closely overseen by the organising committee and the state corporation. Dmitry Chernyshenko will also update us on operational readiness.
The main operating centre has been functioning since September 2013. Thirteen training sessions have been held in accordance with the approved schedule of interagency activities to ensure the operational readiness for the Games and proper response to emergency situations. In addition, three interagency drills have been conducted. Two more interagency drills will be held before the Games, during which the emergency response agencies and organisations will practice their actions in a real situation.
A programme including 73 test events was held as part of the preparations for the Games, of which 33 were international and 40 Russian, with the participation of 7,000 athletes and 100,000 spectators. We have held about 10 major international forums in Sochi focusing on the overall importance of the Games, such as Peace and Sport, a congress of the international association of the press, Sport Accord, and the World Conference on Sport and the Environment. All these forums and test competitions have allowed us to test the services involved in the organisation of the Games.
The preparations for the Games are nearing completion. The organising committee has taken over most of the functions related to the upcoming Games. The organising committee is working around the clock, and is now in charge of all the necessary facilities.
Vitaly Mutko: "Much attention is being paid to the provision of transportation during the Games. There will be 82 Olympic routes during the Games. Athletes will be taken from their hotels to sports facilities in under 18 minutes."
Much attention is being paid to the provision of transportation during the Games. There will be 82 Olympic routes during the Games. Key roads will have reserved Olympic lanes for accredited vehicles. Transport services for accredited individuals and spectators with tickets will be free of charge. Athletes will be taken from their hotels to sports facilities in under 18 minutes. Sochi International Airport will start functioning in full capacity. Passenger traffic is expected to peak at 3,800 passengers per hour. All the necessary medical infrastructure has been created in the Krasnodar Territory. An anti-doping laboratory has been built and fully equipped in Sochi. On 11 January, it was accredited by WADA and will be fully functional during the Games. We expect that the laboratory will conduct 2,500 doping tests during the Olympic Games and 600 tests during the Paralympic Games.
Vitaly Mutko: "An anti-doping laboratory has been built and fully equipped in Sochi. On 11 January, it was accredited by WADA and will be fully functional during the Games. We expect that the laboratory will conduct 2,500 doping tests during the Olympic Games and 600 tests during the Paralympic Games."
The Olympic security regime in Sochi was introduced on January 7 and will last until March 21. Accreditations for the Games have been issued since November 2013. Accreditations can serve as a visa to enter Russia. To provide visa support to non-accredited guests of the Games, the Russian Foreign Ministry will open a temporary consular office at Sochi Airport. A barrier-free environment was created in Sochi, which will make the city more accessible and comfortable for people with disabilities.
Providing a reliable and quality power supply and communication system are among the most important tasks during the preparations for the Games. All sports facilities enjoy power supply boasting the Olympic level of reliability.
Over 25,000 volunteers have been trained, and they deserve all the thanks in the world. They were selected from among more than 300,000 applicants.
Preparations for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games are also drawing to an end.
In general, all the work that has been planned is now nearing completion. Allow me to say a few words about the Russian national teams preparing for the Games. Our overall success depends on the successful performance of our team.
Vitaly Mutko: "In accordance with the programme, there were 364 Olympic and 105 Paralympic athletes participating in centralised training. We have already received 218 Olympic licenses authorising Russian athletes to participate in the Games."
The preparations have been conducted in accordance with the comprehensive programme approved by the Ministry of Sports in 2010. In accordance with the programme, there were 364 Olympic and 105 Paralympic athletes participating in centralised training. We have already received 218 Olympic licenses authorising Russian athletes to participate in the Games. The selection process for participation in the Games is still ongoing and will be completed on January 19. The teams include comprehensive research groups. The teams are provided with everything they may need. A new system of remuneration has been introduced.
The programme has allowed us to boost the competitiveness of the Russian athletes internationally. For example, in Vancouver, we competed in 6 of 15 sports. This time we will compete in 11, including new ones: short track speed skating, freestyle, women's hockey, curling and luge. In addition, the programme has allowed us to carry out a number of measures to train the reserve team, which gives us reason to be optimistic about the future. Athletes who are candidates for the Paralympic team are also involved in centralised training. They have all they need in terms of modern inventory, equipment and gear. This will be the first time that Russia will be participating in all the Paralympic Games disciplines.
Vitaly Mutko: "The Government passed a resolution on remunerating Russian athletes for their performance during the Games: 4 million roubles for a gold medal; 2.5 million roubles for silver; and 1.7 million for bronze."
Much work has been done to ensure that the teams are provided with modern sports training bases in Russia. On January 23, we will finally approve the members of the national Olympic team, and on January 29, the members of the Paralympic team. The Government passed a resolution on remunerating Russian athletes for their performance during the Games: 4 million roubles for a gold medal; 2.5 million roubles for silver; and 1.7 million for bronze.
Colleagues, the Olympic heritage will make Sochi one of the leading mountain ski, travel, and sport centres in Russia. Led by Mr Kozak, the Government has discussed in detail and adopted a programme for the post-Olympic use of the Olympic facilities. In accordance with this programme, the Ministry of Sport will own and operate eight sports facilities, which will be used to create a modern children's sport and fitness centre and the Olympic reserve training facility.
In closing, I’d be remiss not to mention that the state commission, the organising committee, Olympstroy and all concerned federal executive authorities, the Krasnodar Territory and the city of Sochi authorities have done a great deal to ensure the high organisational level of the Games and the successful performance of the Russian athletes during the 2014 Sochi Olympics. I'm confident that we can rightfully expect that the Olympic community will recognise our efforts, which will allow us to host the Games at a high organisational level. Thank you.
Dmitry Medvedev: Thank you. Mr Men, please go ahead.
Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Mikhail Men reports at the Government meeting
Mikhail Men: Mr. Medvedev, esteemed colleagues. The preparations for the Sochi infrastructure for the Games are proceeding under the programme for the construction of Olympic facilities and the regional targeted programme.
As of January 10, 2014, 309 Olympic venues have been put into operation, with construction of another 43 venues completed and the paperwork for opening them currently underway.
Some facilities, such as the road track for Formula 1 car races, and Paralympic banners will open after the Olympics per the approved schedule.
Of the 62 activities that do not involve building or assembly work, 53 have been completed and four of these activities will be finished by January 31, 2014. Some things, such as converting the Ice Palace for figure skating and short track events and the acquisition of the building in the village of Krasnaya Polyana for the Russian national team Olympic Training Centre will continue after the Games per the approved schedule.
Mikhail Men: «After the Olympics, the Mountain Cluster will get four ski resorts, enough for 42,000 tourists, a modern transport, social and utility infrastructure, which will contribute to the further development of the city of Sochi as a ski resort centre.»
Under the programme 13 sport facilities have been built, of which seven are located in the Imereti Valley and six in the Mountain Cluster. Eleven facilities have already opened and the paperwork to commission the remaining two (the combined ski racing and biathlon complex, and the set of ski jumps) is about to be completed.
After the Olympics, the Mountain Cluster will get four ski resorts, enough for 42,000 tourists, a modern transport, social and utility infrastructure, which will contribute to the further development of the city of Sochi as a ski resort centre.
As regards ecology, measures have been taken that substantially increased the area of protected natural reserves, and the international sustainable building standard BREEAM was used in building the Olympic projects. A system of solid domestic waste recycling and disposal has been put in place. Shredders and presses are being installed to reduce solid waste bulk. Waste will be transported to the inter-municipal landfill near the city of Belorechensk. Two landfills in the Adler and Lazarevskoye districts of Sochi with an area of 28 hectares and containing about 7 million cubic metres of waste have been closed. A landfill in Adler has been brought back into cultivation. Ten city boiler facilities have been converted to gas with the reconstruction of the heating systems. These measures went a long way towards improving the environmental situation in the Sochi area.
Mikhail Men: «These large projects, including the infrastructure development, will make it possible to implement the Olympic Heritage programme that will determine the future owners and the uses of the Olympic facilities after the Games are over. All of which will turn Sochi into a world-class holiday resort and sport and exhibition tourist centre with modern infrastructure.»
These large projects, including the infrastructure development, will make it possible to implement the Olympic Heritage programme that will determine the future owners and the uses of the Olympic facilities after the Games are over. Under that programme, the property rights for 445 facilities will be transferred, of which 112 will be turned over to federal executive bodies, 22 to the Krasnodar Territory, 143 to the city of Sochi, 152 to investors and 16 to other deed holders.
All of which will turn Sochi into a world-class holiday resort and sport and exhibition tourist centre with modern infrastructure.
Thank you.
Dmitry Medvedev: Thank you. We’d now like to hear from those who have been invited to attend the Government meeting. Alexander Tkachyov, Governor of the Krasnodar Territory.
Krasnodar Territory Governor Alexander Tkachev speaks at the Government meeting
Alexander Tkachyov: Mr Medvedev, esteemed colleagues. The total amount the region and the city spent on the Olympic construction programme is 182 billion roubles, and I’m referring primarily to the main sport venues, the media centre, the indoor skating centre, six medical and ambulance facilities, schools, kindergartens, purification plants, water intake, roads, transport interchanges, and 130 kilometres of water distribution piping. Massive investments have been made in the upgrading and refurbishment of existing institutions: 18 healthcare and education facilities and also utility infrastructure. We paid particular attention to giving a harmonious architectural look to the Olympic hospitality zone. Under the new regulations, property owners were required to bring the appearance of their property up to the established standards. By the end of December last year, 6885 properties, or 99% of all the properties, conformed to the uniform rules.
Alexander Tkachyov: «The total amount the region and the city spent on the Olympic construction programme is 182 billion roubles, and I’m referring primarily to the main sport venues, the media centre, the indoor skating centre, six medical and ambulance facilities, schools, kindergartens, purification plants, water intake, roads, transport interchanges, and 130 kilometres of water distribution piping.»
In addition, 25,000 decorative trees and 17,000 shrubs have been planted, 300 modern bus stops have been installed and 2,700 signs for pedestrians and vehicles have been put up. Twenty-two kilometers of the roads that will carry guests have been provided with decorative railings. One of our priorities was to provide easy access to people with disabilities. By the end of 2013, as many as 1242 buildings, structures and recreation areas had been made accessible. Buses equipped to carry those with low mobility are in service on all the main routes in Sochi. Ten sport fields and playgrounds fitted for people with disabilities have been built.
In order to meet the deadlines for all the measures and commitments and to help other participants in the Olympic project, the Krasnodar Territory additionally deployed 25,000 regional volunteers, workers and specialists from various municipal entities who are helping mainly with maintenance and beautification.
Alexander Tkachyov: «One of our priorities was to provide easy access to people with disabilities.»
The Krasnodar Territory is contributing to the organisation of the Games under the master plan. We have already completed, right on schedule, 20 of the 25 measures envisaged by the plan.
Healthcare. All the permanent healthcare facilities included in the plan have opened, 90 ambulances have been purchased, including 20 resuscitation vehicles. To ensure the efficient operation of the medical centres, 1370 medical professionals, half of whom are from the Krasnodar Territory, have been recruited. A permanent inventory of medical supplies has been built up.
Alexander Tkachyov: «All the permanent healthcare facilities included in the plan have opened, 90 ambulances have been purchased, including 20 resuscitation vehicles.»
Volunteers. The Krasnodar Territory and Sochi will provide 7,000 volunteers, 3,000 of whom will work for the Organising Committee and 4,000 will be on hand to help in the streets, squares, festivity locations and areas adjacent to the Olympic venues.
Transport. For city routes, 410 new buses equipped to serve people with impaired mobility have been purchased and taxis have been accredited. As of today, 1500 cars, equipped with cashless payment machines, have been issued permits to carry passengers. Eighty-five agreements have been signed with carriers on a moratorium on raising prices during the Olympics.
As regards the environment, Mikhail Men has discussed this, but still I would like to say that during the past seven years the air has become twice as clean. Pollution has dropped from 1.2 of Maximum Allowable Concentration in 2007 to 0.6 MAC today. All this is the result of the massive amount of work we have all accomplished together. The implementation of the Olympic project has boosted the Krasnodar Territory’s Gross Regional Product by more than 40% over the past seven years. Its share in the Gross Regional Product has grown from 2.3% to 2.8%. The unemployment rate at the end of 2013 had dropped to 0.6% and in Sochi to 0.1%. In general, the experts estimate that the Olympic project will have generated about 150,000 jobs within this period.
Today (as was mentioned) one of our key tasks is to ensure the effective use of the Olympic legacy. We will run 123 Olympic facilities, including the Bolshoy Ice Dome and the Central Stadium as well as other venues. Naturally, we have a programme in place to ensure that not a single venue stands idle and is used either commercially or of course for sport, social events and other things.
Thank you.
Dmitry Medvedev: Thank you.
President of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee Dmitry Chernyshenko speaks at the Government meeting
Dmitry Chernyshenko (President of the Organising Committee for the 22nd Olympic Winter Games and 11th Paralympic Winter Games of 2014 in the city of Sochi):
Mr. Medvedev, although the official opening is three weeks away, the Games have, for all intents and purposes, already started. The main Media Centre has opened and about 1500 journalists and broadcasters have already arrived. All the Olympic villages will be opened in eight days and delegations will start arriving. We’ll also launch the mountain media centre. In two weeks athletes will start arriving at the villages and begin training at the Olympic venues. Measures to install all of the temporary infrastructure, i.e., tents, modular buildings, spectator stands, temporary systems, camera platforms, public food vendor points and so on are being completed.
Dmitry Chernyshenko: «The main Media Centre has opened and about 1500 journalists and broadcasters have already arrived. Five hundred kilometers of optical fibre have been laid, and a Megaphone network that can sustain 600,000 subscribers simultaneously has been laid at all the venues, and even in the tunnels.»
In a matter of days all these sites will provide Olympic-standard food services and, as somebody mentioned, an Olympic electronic system of accessing all the venues has been in place since January 7.
The competition areas at all the venues, which are the most important part for the athletes, have been prepared. The ice and snow tracks are of the highest quality (as noted by international experts). Krasnaya Polyana has been blessed with a lot of snow this year, but we are not complacent and we continue to stockpile snow in case the weather turns warm. The logistics are in place; all the warehouses are receiving and unloading equipment, furniture and other items. Work to provide all the facilities with measurement devices and instant information transmission is in the final stretch. Five hundred kilometers of optical fibre have been laid, and a Megaphone network that can sustain 600,000 subscribers simultaneously has been laid at all the venues, and even in the tunnels. The TETRA system has been launched, and the broadcasters are pleased with how it works. In the media centres alone there will be 14,000 points beaming to 123 countries. For medical services there are 38 medical centres at the venues and three clinical and diagnostic centres. They are currently going through the licensing procedure.
Even as I speak, the Laura village is receiving 200 guests to test the services. Temporary structures are being put up at the Olympic Park: about 50 service and entertainment facilities, hospitality homes for the national Olympic Committees from the US, Canada, Switzerland and so on. A huge beautiful building will accommodate the Russian fans, there will even be a Father Frost Residence, pavilions for our partners, an Olympic shop, a large exhibition space for the regions, a kind of an Exhibition of National Economic Achievements in miniature, an Olympic Medal Square which, incidentally, will see performances by the finalists of the Cultural Olympiad from 62 Russian regions.
Dmitry Chernyshenko: «The transport system is operating in Olympic mode. Lastochka trains have become the most popular transport, with 18 trains making 186 runs a day.»
The transport system is operating in Olympic mode. Lastochka trains have become the most popular transport, with 18 trains making 186 runs a day. Client groups are moving into the hotels. Fans can also reserve rooms through the main city operator. Rooms are still available.
As regards the accommodations for personnel, 1,700 volunteers have already checked in. There will be about 213,000 personnel at the Games, of whom 110,000 have already been accredited. Games personnel will be issued about 49,000 sets of catchy national outfits. About 10,000 people have already been issued all the standard uniform. Everything is going according to schedule.
Dmitry Chernyshenko: «As usual the booking offices are busy. The main channel for selling tickets is the internet although there are also booking centres. More than 70% of all the seats have been booked. We are reserving a quota for those who arrive at the Games so that they can buy tickets for the competitions in-between.»
As usual the booking offices are busy. The main channel for selling tickets is the internet although there are also booking centres. More than 70% of all the seats have been booked. We are reserving a quota for those who arrive at the Games so that they can buy tickets for the competitions in-between. The majority of spectators, more than 75%, are expected to be Russian.
All the current operational issues are being handled by the main operational centre under the state commission headed by Dmitry Kozak. It monitors any incident. We are practicing response procedures to any unscripted situations. A lot of exercises have been held. Dmitry Kozak will hold three more clinics tomorrow.
Finally, the Torch Relay. It is in its 101st day, it has passed through 68 regions with 12 million people having taken part in the actual relay. But I would like to remind you that there will also be the Paralympic flame relay.
So, Mr Medvedev, the work is ongoing. The International Olympic Committee has already noted that the operational preparedness and the interaction between all the parties acting under the masthead of the State Commission – the Ministry of Sport, Olympstroy, all the federal executive bodies concerned, the Krasnodar Territory and Sochi – everything is up to the high standards required for the success of the Games.
Dmitry Medvedev: Thank you very much.
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