Russia plays down Olympic Games security concerns

(Vatican Radio) Russia's government has played down American security concerns surrounding the upcoming 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, saying it's doing everything to guarantee the safety of all visitors to the massive sports event.

As Vatican Radio's regional correspondent Stefan Bos reports, Moscow has criticized government officials who plan to boycott the Winter Games to protest against Russia's perceived poor record on human rights.

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Russia's government has played down American security concerns surrounding the upcoming 2014 Olympic Winter Games in the Black Sea resort of Sochi and criticized Western government leaders boycotting the sports event.


On the eve of what will be the most expensive Winter Games ever, Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Kozak said authorities could in his words "guarantee the safety of the people as well as any other government hosting a mass event."


He revealed that Russia cooperates with nations across the globe to build a

database on potential terrorists to prevent any disruption of the 50-billion-dollar extravaganza.


His comments came after the U.S. Homeland Security Department warned airlines flying to Russia that terrorists may try to smuggle explosives into the country in tubes of toothpaste.

INDEPENDENT STATE

Militants fighting for an independent Islamic state in Russia's North Caucasus region have threatened to attack the Winter Games after carrying out recent suicide attacks in which dozens of people died.


Amid the tensions, Russian officials are annoyed that government leaders ranging from American President Barack Obama to German Chancellor Angela Merkel will not be in the stadium when the Winter Olympics

open amid concerns over reported human rights abuses in the country.


Russian Foreign Minister Sirgey Lavrov called the boycott controversy is "utter nonsense" and said he can't remember "any single Olympic Games before that has been accompanied by this kind of talk."

He added that the invitations "were sent not by Russia" but by the International Olympic Committee.


OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

"Those characters who think too much of themselves – the international and European politicians announcing their rejection of the invitation – actually rejected the invitation of the International Olympic Committee," he said.


"We congratulate them all for that.”


Minister Lavrov was among several known people carrying the Olympic torch through Sochi.


The Olympic flame, which was lit in Olympia, Greece, reached Sochi on Wednesday following a 65,000-kilometer route, the longest in the history of the games.