The leader of Dagestan Ramazan Abdulatipov, centre, arrives to watch the Olympic torch relay in the city of Makhachkala, regional capital of southern Russian Caucasus province of Dagestan on Monday, Jan. 27, 2014. The 65,000-kilometer (40,389 mile) Sochi torch relay, which started on Oct. 7, is the longest in Olympic history. The torch has traveled to the North Pole on a Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker and has even been flown into space. (AP Photo/Sergei Rasulov, NewsTeam)
January 27, 2014 - 6:52 AM
LONDON - IOC President Thomas Bach has defended the choice of Sochi as host of the Winter Olympics and says he's "sleeping very well" despite the terror threat hanging over the games.
Bach reiterates his confidence that Russia will provide "safe and secure" games without taking away from a festive Olympic atmosphere.
Russia is mounting a massive security operation for the games, which open Feb. 7 amid threats of attacks from Muslim insurgents from the North Caucasus region.
Bach told reporters Monday the IOC remains in constant contact with Russia about security and expressed full confidence in the measures for Sochi.
Asked whether he's worried, he said, "I'm sorry to tell you I'm sleeping very well."
Bach adds "you can be sure the Russians will be doing everything to welcome everybody and make everybody feel comfortable."
News from © The Associated Press, 2014