On Wednesday, Felli gave a positive progress report on Sochi’s preparations to host the Winter Olympics, but revealed that the IOC had obtained an “escape” clause that could see the 2014 race, which is earmarked to be Russia’s first F1 grand prix, postponed until 2015.
“It is good to have the F1 Grand Prix in Russia and Sochi,” Felli told Reuters. “However, we do not want to have the facility, built for the grand prix, to put construction or preparation for the Games at risk.”
Felli added: “When we learned the Grand Prix could be organised in 2014 we wanted to know if it is an issue. In the contract they (the Russian F1 race organisers) signed there is an escape that if the IOC decides it is not feasible then it could be rescheduled in 2015.”
Felli was speaking after the IOC’s executive board met in Lausanne, Switzerland, to discuss preparations in Sochi. He added to AFP: “We are happy with where we are today. It's a difficult project but we can see today that 40% of the construction is finished, and at the end of the 2011, 70% of construction will be finished.”
