Vladimir Putin inspects Sochi Olympic facilities

During his visit to Sochi on December 25, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting to discuss preparations for the 2014 Olympics, toured several Olympic construction sites, and inaugurated a new section of a bypass road

Prime Minister Putin, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak and Minister of Transport Igor Levitin inspected the new terminal of the Sochi Airport

Minister of Transport Igor Levitin spoke on what had recently been accomplished and what still needed to be resolved

Prime Minister Putin inspected the check-in counters and baggage facilities, which according to airport personnel, are state of the art. According to Levitin, Sochi Airport will be able to handle 24 takeoffs and landings per hour, which fully complies with requirements set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Olympstroy President Taimuraz Bolloyev (third from left) showed Prime Minister Putin the model of the Olympic Park

Putin also inspected the southern entrance to tunnel No. 3, which is part of the combined road and railroad linking Adler with the Alpika-Servis alpine resort. When the tunnel is completed, it will allow athletes and spectators to reach any Olympic facility within 30 minutes, thus reducing the negative effect of automobile exhaust on the region’s environment

Prime Minister Putin inaugurated a bypass road, which will allow traffic to bypass the city center

“Despite its unique nature, this 17-kilometer-long bypass has been an ill-fated project. It was launched in 1989, suspended in 1995 due to a lack of funds, and revived in 2004. The first stage is now over, at last,” said the prime minister

Prime Minister Putin was shown the three-dimensional model of the entire Olympic Park

Putin also toured the Grand Ice Arena

Despite the fact that Olympic construction is being carried out quickly and ahead of schedule, Prime Minister Putin only described it as satisfactory, explaining that “there is a lot to work on.”