Olympics 2008 News
Putin appoints new Olympic construction chief
Feb 1, 2011, 9:43 GMT
Moscow - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has appointed Sergei Gaplikov head of construction for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, news reports said on Tuesday.
Gaplikov, 40, the deputy head of Putin's staff, replaces Taimuraz Bolloyev, whose resignation was reported on Monday.
Bolloyev is said to have officially stepped down for health reasons, but Russian reports also mentioned differences with chief Olympic planner and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitriy Kozak. However, Kozak has dismissed this.
Gaplikov now heads the state-owned Olimpstroy company which was founded for the huge construction job after the Black Sea resort of Sochi was elected host by the International Olympic Committee in 2007.
Costs are said to have sky-rocketed and there have also been corruption allegations against Olimpstroy.
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