Russian Chief Concerned Over Post-Olympics Costs To Maintain Sochi Venues

The fate of Sochi's Olympic venues after the 2014 Winter Olympics "must come in the scrutiny of Russian government," according to XINHUA. Russia Head of the Audit Chamber Sergei Stepashin said, "Sochi Olympics is a unique project but we are worrying about the post-Olympics heritage." Stepashin added that the Audit Chamber was going to address President Vladimir Putin over the future of these venues. Stepashin: "We are concerned with what will happen (with them) after the Olympics are over, who will maintain these venues, what the cost will be and how to make them pay off though partly." According to the official, "no Olympic venue in the world has ever reimbursed the expenses for its construction." He estimated the annual cost of maintaining sporting facilities at 60B rubles ($2B), which was "too expensive" (XINHUA, 1/15).