Putin in Sochi opened the 126th Session of the IOC, which will last before the Olympiad

President Vladimir Putin in Sochi opened the 126th session of the International Olympic Committee, which will continue until the start of the 2014 Olympics.

“We are grateful to the International Olympic Committee for the opportunity to adopt the“ White Olympics. ”We understand how it was not easy to provide the right to play the city, where at that time there were only 10 - a maximum of 15% of the necessary infrastructure,” the President’s press service quoted the Presidential Property. At the same time, Putin thanked the IOC for the fact that he believed in the power of Russia, in the Russian character.

“Difficulties only rally, give a powerful incentive to change the situation and prove that Russia is able to solve any problems, successfully achieve the most ambitious goals,” the head of Russia added.

As an example, he said that sports facilities and all the necessary urban infrastructure, the construction of which usually go for decades, managed to build in Sochi in five years. According to the head of state, today everyone can see how the city has transformed over the past years, and make sure that Russia is "ready to contribute to the development of all world sports."

Concluding a brief greeting to the guests of the ceremony, the president, as ITAR-TASS specifies, said in English: "Dear friends, ladies and gentlemen! I declare the 126th session of the IOC open." However, on the Kremlin’s website, these words are written in Russian, like the whole speech.

The session, which is the 126th in a row and is held in Sochi on the eve of the Winter Olympic Games, will continue until February 7-the day of the opening of the OI-2014, RIA Novosti notes.