Russia on alert after suicide bombings kill 31

Last Updated: Tuesday, December 31, 2013, 02:57

At least 14 people were killed Monday when a suicide bomber blew himself up on a packed trolleybus in Volgograd, raising new concerns about security at the Sochi Olympics a day after a deadly attack on the southern Russian city`s train station.

Bach expects `safe and secure` Olympics in Sochi

Last Updated: Tuesday, December 31, 2013, 00:49

IOC President Thomas Bach expressed full confidence today that Russian authorities will deliver a "safe and secure" Olympics in Sochi despite the two deadly suicide bombings in southern Russia that heightened concerns about the terrorist threat to the Winter Games.

Car bomb kills three in southern Russia

Last Updated: Saturday, December 28, 2013, 03:33

A car bomb killed three people in the southern Russian city of Pyatigorsk on Friday, officials said, in a worrying development for the Kremlin as Russia prepares to host the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi in six weeks` time.

US delegate Boitano comes out as gay ahead of Sochi

Last Updated: Friday, December 20, 2013, 08:57

American Olympic figure skating champion Brian Boitano said on Thursday he is gay, making the announcement two days after being named to the official United States delegation to the Sochi Winter Games.

Russian skiing champion banned from Sochi Olympics

Last Updated: Monday, December 9, 2013, 20:47

Russian freestyle skiing star Anna Orlovskaya will miss the Sochi Winter Olympics for abusing anti-doping rules, the national anti-doping agency said Monday.

Putin says gay athletes, visitors would have `nothing to fear` at Sochi Olympics

Last Updated: Tuesday, October 29, 2013, 09:52

Russian President Vladimir Putin has insisted that gay and lesbian athletes would be welcome and would have nothing to fear at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Winter Olympics: Russia has mountain to climb with `Putin`s Games`

Last Updated: Monday, October 28, 2013, 09:47

With a race against the clock to complete building works, threats of militant attacks, controversy over anti-gay law, Russia faces an unprecedented challenge to hold a successful Winter Olympics.

Sochi Olympics organiser denies torch explosion reports

Last Updated: Wednesday, October 23, 2013, 19:10

Russia`s Olympics chief organiser has denied reports that a torch used during the Sochi games relay had exploded.

Bode Miller says Russian anti-gay law `ignorant`

Last Updated: Tuesday, October 1, 2013, 09:24

While some athletes danced around Russia`s anti-gay legislation on Monday American skiing great Bode Miller met the issue head on by calling next year`s Sochi Winter Olympic hosts "ignorant."

Putin demands regular reports on Sochi Olympics

Last Updated: Tuesday, September 17, 2013, 13:15

Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked the organisers of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics for fortnightly reports on the preparations for the Games.

Security not improving fast enough in region near Olympics: Vladimir Putin

Last Updated: Tuesday, September 10, 2013, 08:41

Russia`s president ordered intelligence agencies on Monday to step up efforts to secure a volatile region near next year`s Winter Olympics, saying the situation was not improving fast enough.

Russian gay law raises alarm among Olympic sponsors

Last Updated: Monday, September 9, 2013, 09:04

Fears Russia`s controversial gay law could affect next year`s Sochi Winter Games has reached sponsors despite efforts by the hosts to play down the issue.