MOSCOW - International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge says he's pleased with Russia's preparations for the 2014 Sochi Games.
Rogge says he's encouraged by "the pace and quality" of the work in the Black Sea resort area. Almost all the venues and infrastructure are being built from scratch.
Rogge spoke in Moscow on Tuesday at the signing of an extension of a sponsorship contract between the IOC and Visa.
Rogge says he's received assurances from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that environmentalists' concerns about the Sochi Games would be taken seriously. The snow sports venues will be near a national park and nature preserve.
