The Olympic construction in Sochi has been praised by the International Olympic Committee. But some scientists say corners are being cut and vital research is being ignored. (Pics and text: Artyom Liss, BBC)
Sergei Volkov, a top Russian geologist, was the first to raise the alarm. He is now in hiding in Ukraine, fearing arrest by the Russian authorities. “We have found large deposits of dangerous minerals," he says.
The most expensive Olympic project is this road, cutting right through the region’s main river valley. Environmentalists warn of disastrous consequences for the valley's unique wildlife.
Geologists warn that massive machinery working on the river banks could set off a major landslide. The mountains near Sochi are not strong enough to support the weight of such heavy equipment, they say.
Vladimir Koshelev, a local resident, knows this first-hand. He took us down into his cellar, where a wall has crumbled under the weight of heavy trucks driving down a new road, just metres away from his house.
And this is where Mr Koshelev, an avid fisherman, used to spend hours fishing for trout and salmon. Now that the lush green hills near his house have been replaced by stone walls and workers’ huts, the fish have gone.
Sergei Avdeev, Mayor of Krasnaya Polyana, the village closest to the Olympic sites, has been on the verge of resigning. He says he is very concerned about the potentially disastrous impact of all the construction work.
The mountain where the new tunnel is being built is on the right. The existing road tunnels cut through the hillside on the left – and that area is already prone to landslides.
Despite protests by local residents, scientists and environmentalists, work continues apace. Thousands of tonnes of gravel from the riverbed are being moved to make way for the new road.
And in the distance, work is under way on a new tunnel which will cut through the face of a mountain described by geologist Sergei Volkov as “potentially unstable”.
Up in the mountains, we found these heavy machines building a wall all along the new road leading up to the ski slopes. This wall is supposed to stop avalanches and landslides, but will it be completed on time?
But the company behind Russia’s Olympic project denies cutting any corners. Alexandra Kosterina, the company's chief spokesperson, says everything is being done in line with international standards.
The organisers of the Olympic Games are promising to turn the area into a resort of international renown. Their opponents are concerned that this project might turn into an international failure.
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