Russia Vows 'Unnoticeable' Security Operation During Sochi Winter Olympics

Russia is promising that the security operation at the Sochi Olympics will be "unnoticeable" and in no way hinder the enjoyment of the Winter Games for its visitors, according to R-SPORT. Russia "faces a huge challenge in providing a safe Games because Sochi is located near the country's volatile North Caucasus region." But even so, Russia's top security agency "is vowing a smooth and slick screening process that will take nothing away from the Games experience" at the Feb. 7-23 event. Federal Security Service head Alexei Lavrishchev said, "Our security measures will be unnoticeable and in no way will inhibit the movements of Olympic guests." He also claimed that "the measures would pale in comparison with the London 2012 Summer Olympics." Lavrishchev: "If you remember London, on the roofs of houses there were snipers and rocket complexes, despite the protests of the locals. ... There were also military personnel on the streets, but we will not have this" (R-SPORT, 10/2).