Planned facilities for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics including a bobsleigh track through a nature reserve will not be relocated despite protests from environmental groups, the natural resources minister said on Tuesday.

"We'll solve this issue without relocating facilities," Yury Trutnev said.

Environmental groups have said the planned bobsleigh road with related infrastructure in the Caucasus State Natural Reserve is one of the most damaging Olympic projects, along with a mountain Olympic village and a rail line in the region, classified by UNESCO as the only mountainous area in Europe that remains virtually undamaged by humans.

Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund and other groups had requested the facilities be moved.

RIA Novosti


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