2014 Sochi Olympics: International Olympic Committee Assures Safety For Winter Games After Suicide Bombings In Russia

With the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics approaching, fans, athletes and tournament committee members are now dealing with situations completely outside the competitive arena. After two separate bombings took place on back-to-back days in South Russia, locals and those hoping to attend the highly anticipated Winter Games have grown weary of the overall safety of the event. On Sunday, a bomb that detonated in the city of Volgograd killed at least 17 people at the city's biggest railway station. Another suicide bombing took the lives of 14 the very next day, this time by an explosion on an electric bus.

The Russian city of Volgograd is located nearly 400 miles northeast of Sochi and with the Olympic games set to take place from February 7 through February 23, concerns are now at a high level with just over a month remaining before the start of the event. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach issued a statement shortly after the Monday bombings expressing his condolences to those who lost loved ones. Though no one person or organization claimed responsibility for the attacks, Back also said that the security detail for the Olympic games will carry out their original responsibilities of protecting the athletes and all those involved.

This is a despicable attack on innocent people and the entire Olympic Movement joins me in utterly condemning this cowardly act. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the victims. I have personally written to the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to express our condolences to the Russian people and our confidence in the Russian authorities to deliver safe and secure Games in Sochi. I am certain that everything will be done to ensure the security of the athletes and all the participants of the Olympic Games.

Sadly terrorism is a global disease but it must never be allowed to triumph. The Olympic Games are about bringing people from all backgrounds and beliefs together to overcome our differences in a peaceful way. The many declarations of support and solidarity from the international community make me confident that this message of tolerance will also be delivered by the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

Backing the words of Thomas Back, the British Olympic Committee also said it plans to continue preparing for the upcoming winter event just as they've been all along, with the number one goal remaining to protect those competing and the many folks in attendance for what promises to be an entertaining Winter Olympics.

“Our preparations for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games continue and we are confident the Russian officials will regularly assess the security measures that are in place to make certain the environment is as safe as possible.”