New IOC president Bach heads to Sochi

LONDON (AP):

Thomas Bach will make his first trip to Sochi as International Olympic Committee (IOC) president later this month, visiting the Russian city that will host the 2014 Winter Olympics in February.

Bach will attend the Sport and Environment Conference in Sochi from October 30-November 1, the IOC told The Associated Press yesterday.

The trip will give him the chance to check up firsthand on preparations for the games, and hold talks with Russian organisers and government officials.

Bach singled out Sochi as a top priority after his election last month as IOC president.

Within minutes of the September 10 vote in Buenos Aires, Bach received a phone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who promised to collaborate closely with the IOC to ensure the success of the games.

It's not yet known if Putin will be in Sochi for Bach's visit, but the Russian leader goes there frequently and considers the Olympics a matter of personal and national pride.

Previous visit

Bach has been to Sochi before when he was chairman of the IOC evaluation commission during the bidding for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Sochi failed to make the list of finalists for those games, which were awarded to Salt Lake City.

Bach travelled to Greece for the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic flame on September 29. The flame arrived on Sunday in Moscow, where it was greeted by Putin for the start of the 39,000 mile torch relay through Russia ahead of the opening ceremony in the Black Sea resort on February 7.

The build-up to the Olympics has been overshadowed by Western criticism of a recently-enacted Russian law outlawing the promotion of gay "propaganda" among minors, an issue that has raised concerns about the conditions for athletes and spectators.

Bach said during his trip to Ancient Olympia for the flame-lighting ceremony that he discussed the matter with Russian officials and received fresh assurances that there would be no discrimination at the games.

The German said the IOC's task is to ensure compliance with the Olympic Charter, which prohibits discrimination of any kind at the games.

The IOC has also warned athletes that the charter prohibits them from making any political gestures or protests.