OREANDA-NEWS. January 06, 2010. The meeting addressed implementing the construction programme for Olympic facilities and issues regarding the architectural development of the area where the 2014 Olympic Games will be held.

The President emphasised the need to accelerate the provision of land to citizens whose property was taken in order to construct Olympic facilities and to build new housing more rapidly.

This work must be done in full accordance with current legislation; however, it cannot violate the interests and rights of landowners. The President emphasised that no delays can be permitted in addressing this matter.

Dmitry Medvedev also called for the construction of Olympic facilities to make use of the most modern means and engineering solutions and to ensure constant monitoring of the environment to minimise any ecological risks.

Furthermore, all Olympic projects should be developed with an eye toward attracting private investors, particularly in areas related to infrastructure (including transport, small-scale power generation, and the construction of waste treatment facilities and hotels). It is also imperative to be aware of the rapidly increasing burden on the transport corridors linking Sochi to nearby territories.

Dmitry Medvedev emphasised that ultimately, the main goal of these projects is not merely to prepare for the Olympics but to essentially create a new Sochi, a city that will provide comfortable living conditions as well as the best possible setting for vacationing.

Before the beginning of the meeting, the President toured one of the Olympic venues currently under construction – a ski facility being created for the biathlon and ski racing – along with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, Head of the Administration of the Krasnodar region Alexander Tsachev, and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Southern Federal District Vladimir Ustinov.

Today, the President also signed a law making amendments to several pieces of legislation. The law regulates relations concerning property, land, forestry, urban development, taxes, and other matters relating to organising and holding the Olympic Games in Sochi and developing the city as a mountain resort.