The proposed Olympic games in Sochi will have a negative effect on the natural resources of the Sochi National Park and the Kavkaz Reserve.

A “historic” event happened several days ago- Sochi was named one of the three candidates for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Shortly before this, in order to show its serious intentions, the Russian Government approved of the development of Sochi Mountain Resort (2006 – 2014). According to this program, investments in Sochi will skyrocket up to 372 billion Rubles (more than10 billion Euros). The president himself has openly supported the idea. All these events created certain hope and excitement with the Russians.

However, according to local environmentalists, there can be no Olympic Games in Sochi. Supporters of the games in Sochi are fooling themselves. Andrey Rudomakha, a representative of Ecological Watch of the Northern Caucuses thinks that the proposed Olympic Games in Sochi will significantly damage the wildlife and the biodiversity of the area. The natural reserves will be the first to suffer; among them Zapadnyi Kavkaz (the western Caucuses), a World Inheritance Site. This event will negatively affect the social and economic well-being of the local people, as the unique hydro- system of the ecological framework of the southern and central parts of the Bolshoi Sochi will be impacted. The backbone of the system is the Mzymta River. The organizers propose to put the major athletic facilities in the upper valley of the river. Naturally, the hydrologic balance of the river will be upset. Wildlife conservancy and environmentally friendly approaches are the main priorities for the International Olympic Movement. Fortunately, the final decision will not be made in Russia, where the ecological requirements are often ignored and laws can be flexible according to one-person’s wish. Therefore, Sochi does not have a chance to hold such an important event.

Lobbyists of the Olympic Games in Russia purposely hide some facts. They also distort some information, which will play an important role in the decision over the site of the 2014 Olympic Games. However they try, the organizers will not be able to hide the fact that the main athletic facilities are to be built in the unique areas of the Sochi National Park. It is also difficult to conceal that a part of the Caucuses reserve will also be used. The promoters of the games propose that certain sections be removed from the Park. It is easy to notice that holding the Olympic Games in Sochi will grossly violate Russian nature conservancy law.

A powerful lobby of the officials and oligarchs, strongly promoting the idea, in a way, let the Russian President down, giving him the wrong idea about legal sides of the issue. As a result, the President, the legal executive, encourages to law breaking.

The fundamental truth is that the Olympic games are not held in reserves. When the Olympic games were proposed in the Tatry National Park, which is in Poland and Slovakia, the Ministry of Wildlife of these countries did not let it happen. Unfortunately, in Russia the Ministry of the Natural Resources, responsible for the wildlife protection, will not dare to oppose, thus performing its duties.

Andrey Rudomakha added, “Everything has turned upside down. The state organs, which are to defend the law and protect the natural resources, have suddenly acted contrarily. Instead, the concerned community carries out their responsibilities.”

Ecological Watch on Northern Caucuses as well as other environmentalist communities of the Northern Caucuses and Russia will not allow the Olympic Games to take place in the reserve territories.

Environmentalists point out that they are not opposed to the idea of the Olympic games in Russia. They said, “We support the noble ideas of the Olympic Movement and will be happy to see the games happen in our country. Unfortunately, Sochi is not a wise choice for this event. Moreover, it contradicts legal requirements. Sochi does not have the necessary area for the Olympic Games. It is not possible to build the athletic facilities and carry out the immense events without damaging the wildlife of the region.

In our intentions we attempt to preserve the unique wildlife of the Western Caucuses as well as the nature of Russia as a whole. The promotion of the idea of the Olympic Games in this unique World Inheritance reserve area will cause a huge international scandal.

No Olympic games will be held in Sochi! The International Olympic Committee will not agree to organize the event on the grave of a national park. As sure as the sun rises in the east, the earlier Russia stops this insane and harmful idea, the better the international image of the country will be and the less unique wildlife areas will suffer.”

28/06/2006