MOSCOW, January 15 (R-Sport) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has set up a state commission to deliver the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, the Kremlin said Tuesday.
Putin has staked his reputation on the Olympics going well after lobbying IOC offcials personally in 2007 to ensure Russia was granted its first Winter Games.
The commission is to be headed by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak and its aim is to coordinate the work of the various federal and regional authorities to ensure final preparations for the Games, as well as the event itself, run smoothly.
A message on the Kremlin website said the commission is needed "to support the preparations and the running of the XXII Winter Olympic Games and the XI Paralympic Winter Games."
The 37-man commission brings together the entire Cabinet of ministers, as well as Sochi organizing committee officials.
Kozak is charged with producing three reports, one by August 1, a second by December 31, and a third by June 1, 2014, four months after the end of the Games.
Then-President Dmitry Medvedev promoted Kozak in 2008 from regional development minister to deputy prime minister in charge of preparations for the 2014 Games.
More than 70 percent of the facilities required for the Olympics are ready with just over a year to go until competition starts.
A packed test-events program continues this year with stages of respective world cup competitions in Alpine skiing, short-track speedskating and biathlon planned, among others.
