Contractors building sporting facilities for the 2014 Olympic Games in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi followed UN recommendations on Wednesday and signed a declaration to preserve the ecosystem of a local river.
Signatories to the document on restoring the ecosystem of the Mzymta River included Russian gas giant Gazprom, the Russian Railways monopoly and the local administration. Officials of the UN Environment Program (UNEP) also attended the signing ceremony.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, president of the Sochi-2014 organizing committee, said international expert examinations of the environment in the area have been a "unique asset" for Russia, where "green standards" began to be applied only recently.
Chairman of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jean Claude Killy and Executive Director for Olympic Games Gilbert Felli visited Sochi on March 21-23 and praised the progress of preparations.
Killy commended the compact layout of the facilities at the Sochi resort, which he said would make it easier for athletes and spectators to move around.
SOCHI, March 23 (RIA Novosti)
