What is the environmental cost of the Olympics in Sochi

What is the environmental cost of the Olympics in Sochi

After London has been commended for the sustained effort he has made in protecting the environment at the Summer Olympics in 2012, Russian officials have also promised an Olympics 'green' in Sochi . Environmental activists , however, say the organizers have made ​​promises just the opposite .

To organize edition number 22 of the Winter Olympics , the Russians built in an underdeveloped region where there is a national park and UNESCO , the infrastructure needed to host an extremely large number of athletes from 88 countries participating , the media representatives and fans from all over the world .

Since last month, environmental activists told the international media that the organizers have not kept promises. Suren Gazaryan , zoologist and member of the Environmental Watch of the North Caucasus ( EWNC ) , explained to U.S. magazine Time that during the construction work has been severely affected region in which the Olympics . According to him, there is evidence that large amounts of waste illegally deposited blocked access to animal migration routes , residents have limited access to safe drinking water and decreased quality of life in Sochi .

Also, according to scientific publication popsci.com , which recently conducted a review of statements about the environmental damage caused by the organization of the Games , an extremely important wetland , which housed dozens of species of birds was covered with crushed stone to allow infrastructure construction . Birds have migrated to " Ornithological Park " built for them.

Vitishko EWNC activist Yevgeny , who was recently arrested for " swearing in public," said in turn to Vice.com that Russian laws aimed at protecting the environment were changed in 2006, 2011 and 2013 in order to loosen restrictions and facilitate the raising of buildings and the Olympic stadium .