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IOC refuses Georgia bid to move 2014 Olympics from Sochi

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Georgia's request to move the 2014 Winter Olympics from a resort in southern Russia has been rejected by the International Olympic Committee, a Russian deputy prime minister said on Friday.
MOSCOW, November 21 (RIA Novosti) - Georgia's request to move the 2014 Winter Olympics from a resort in southern Russia has been rejected by the International Olympic Committee, a Russian deputy prime minister said on Friday.

The Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi won the bid for the 2014 Olympics in July 2007, defeating Salzburg, Austria, and Pyeonchang, South Korea. Earlier this week, the Georgian National Olympic Committee sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) asking for the games to be moved from Sochi for security reasons.

Russia and Georgia fought a brief war in August after Tbilisi launched an offensive in an attempt to regain control of breakaway South Ossetia. Moscow subsequently recognized the republic and Abkhazia, another separatist Georgian region, as independent states.

Georgia also raised the Sochi issue at the general assembly of the European Olympic committees in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday.

"The issue has been raised in Istanbul and the Georgians were given a clear answer - it is not even worth considering," Dmitry Kozak, who is responsible for overseeing the preparations for the Olympics, told a news conference.

Associated Press earlier quoted Patrick Hickey, president of the European Olympic body, as saying in response to Georgia's request: "We cannot discuss these issues. You've had your say. The IOC is very satisfied with the guarantees given by the Russian NOC (national Olympic committee), the organizing committee and the Russian government."

Kozak also told reporters that despite the global economic downturn Russia has not experienced any problems with funding for infrastructure projects, and the Olympic preparations were going according to schedule.

Not a single investor has pulled out of any projects for the Sochi Olympic Games in Russia, he said.

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