Russian opposition figure claims multibillion-dollar corruption at 2014 Winter Games in Sochi
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The gold medal is displayed for journalists during a presentation of Sochi 2014 Olympic medals at the SportAccord International Convention in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, May 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) (The Associated Press)
A prominent Russian opposition figure claims billions of dollars have been stolen during preparations for the 2014 Winter Games in the southern city of Sochi.
Boris Nemtsov, a former Russian deputy prime minister, and an associate released a report Thursday claiming that up to $30 billion was stolen by Russian officials and businessmen in the run-up to the Sochi Olympics.
Nemtsov arrived at that figure by comparing the initial cost estimate with the final price tag of about $51 billion and with cost overruns at previous Olympics. He also compared the per-seat cost of Sochi's Olympic stadium and stadiums at previous games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Sochi games in Russia will be the most expensive Olympics in history, winter or summer. In contrast, the 2012 London Summer Olympics cost $14.3 billion.