Controversial Olympiad. Sochi – 2014

Public figures advertise the Olympiad while environmentalists and local population protest

Public debates over the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi are becoming more and more vehement. Many famous people advertise the Olympiad. The “Komersant” publishing house is officially promoting the 2014 Olympics.

At the same time, environmentalists and the local population are protesting. Local residents are often forced to leave their houses and move to other districts of Sochi so that new buildings can be constructed in the city. These people call themselves “the victims of the Olympiad”.  Reported human rights violations are numerous in present-day Sochi.

However, the local authorities, as well as the International Olympic Committee, are trying to start talks with the environmentalists. In the framework of the UNEP mission chief’s visit to Sochi, the international mission managed to monitor the construction of the Olympic facilities and appreciated the work done. According to the UNEP mission’s chief, conflicts occur in all countries of the world, but in Sochi the local authorities are doing their best to improve the situation.

Yekaterina Tesemnikova. Exclusively to VK