Olympic protests over Russia’s Sochi games

It seems not everyone is happy about Russia hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics. These residents, angry about plans to demolish their homes to make way for the Sochi Games, let their feelings be known during a tour by Olympic inspectors. Mobile phone footage appears to show police trying to force demonstrators onto buses at a site near the main Olympic venue.

The police have denied accusations of heavy handedness and say they were trying to prevent protestors from disrupting the IOC inspection. The Olympic delegation toured venues on the Black Sea coast and said Moscow faced a big challenge to build infrastructure in time for the event.

A concern dismissed by deputy Prime Minister Alexander Joukov who said: “Everything will be ready in time, its not even a remote possibility that we won’t be finished before the Games start. Its an event that can’t be delayed.”

Russia is spending at billions of euros to make the Black Sea resort and its surrounding mountain villages ready for the Games. Officials claim very few homes will be demolished and those owners affected will be compensated.