Sochi 2014 funding remains unchanged despite crisis

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has pledged that the world economic crisis won't jeopardize funding for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

“The financial difficulties we're seeing in the world today have had an impact on our country, but everything relating to the Olympic project is safeguarded by the budget, and its financing is guaranteed,” Putin said, before adding: “None of the Russian or foreign investors have abandoned their initial plans.”

The Prime Minister has already left Davos and is now in Sochi, where he is courting the International Olympic Committee on its inspection trip to the region.

The delegation has been checking up on the construction work and ecological viability of the Olympic projects. The visitors say they are impressed by the preparations.