About: Sochi Olympics

Russian athletes face ban from Rio Olympics

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) yesterday (18 July) recommended that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee should consider banning all athletes entered by the Russian Olympic Committee for next month's Rio Olympics.

German politicians mull moving 2018 World Cup from Russia

Several senior German lawmakers have raised the possibility of stripping Russia of its right to host the 2018 World Cup. Germany's football association said it was very worried about events following the downing of a passenger plane over Ukraine.

Mass rally marks Yanukovich’s return from Sochi

Ukrainian protesters kept up pressure on President Viktor Yanukovich yesterday (9 February) with a mass rally where opposition leaders called for an end to his "dictatorial" powers. Yanukovich met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Sochi Winter Olympics on Friday.

EU to step in as mediator in Ukraine

The EU is ready to delegate high-level representatives to act as mediators in talks between the opposition and the authorities in Ukraine, Vitali Klitschko, leader of the opposition UDAR party was quoted as saying today (5 February) after talks in Kyiv with the EU’s foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton.

Russia accuses EU of ‘aggressively promoting’ homosexuality

Russia, caught in a pre-Sochi Olympic uproar over gay rights, accuses the European Union in a new report of trying to enforce "an alien view" of homosexuality on other countries.

Georgie cries foul as Russia shifts border

Georgia yesterday (21 January) condemned Russia for expanding its border deeper into Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia that Moscow has recognized as an independent country since 2008.

EPP leader calls for ‘political boycott’ of the Sochi games

Polish MEP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, a vice-president of the European People's Party and president of the EPP group in the European Parliament, has called for a “political boycott” of the Sochi Olympics.

Schulz: Door is still open for Ukraine

European Parliament President Martin Schulz has reaffirmed the EU's position that the door remains open to Ukraine after its decision to put on hold its EU association process last month in favour of closer relations with Russia. EU leaders are expected to discuss relations with Ukraine and Russia when their meeting resumes today (20 December).

Minister: Georgia will send a team to the Sochi Olympics

Achieving the territorial integrity with the Russia-occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia will take time, but in the meantime Georgia seeks “fields of cooperation” with Russia and will not boycott the Sochi Olympic Games, Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.

Islamism in Azerbaijan

Islamism is rising in Azerbaijan but remains a manageable threat which is unlikely to topple the country's government or seriously affect the nearby 2014 Sochi Olympics, argues Stratfor.