Security measures have been enhanced in Sochi region, so-called “Big Sochi”, Adler is a part of it. Every country holds such events before the Olympics, but the measures in Sochi-Adler area are, perhaps, the most extensive. In Adler police officers can be seen on almost all streets. Most of them are from different regions of Russia. The same happened at the 1980 Moscow Olympics which I attended as a student of Faculty of History at Donetsk State University. At that time and even now, I came across militiamen on horses (now police officers), who are patrolling in the streets. The police officers are very nice to residents and tourists. I met two police officers who spoke Georgian. When they saw a flag of Georgia and “Georgia” on my clothes – they called me in Georgian and said hello to Georgia. They refused to take a picture or to make a comment because they were on duty.

On February 4 general rehearsal of the opening ceremony was held on the Olympic stadium in Adler. Two hours earlier the police helicopters were flying over Adler. I asked the police officers and volunteers if it was usual in Adler. Everybody told me they had not seen so many helicopters before. However, we found out that it was planned and there was no incident.

Hundreds of hotel owners are happy with the arrival of foreign tourists, journalists and sportsmen because so many people have not been in Adler-Sochi in winter for the last 20 years.

Tengiz Pachkoria, specially for www.worldsport.ge

Link for the rehearsal of the Olympics opening ceremony

http://www.eurosport.ru/olympic-games/sochi-2014/2014/story_sto4122651.shtml