and five days before the opening ceremony international olympic committee president thomas bach also arrived in sochi to review those final preparations and security plans the former olympic fencer will oversee his first winter games after succeeding jacques rogge as i.o.c. president in september and he's optimistic the event will progress without incident . we have served for confidence in the russian authorities there we have been called to take their you know the time of their preparations we know very well so the russian security forces have very very close cooperation with the national security forces and that everything you said being done to the earth secure these three games and prayer for the athletes and all the bookies for ensuring the screams in a safe and secure environment and the snowboarders wraps up there and in pick preparations at the final stage of the world cup in germany in the men's event at france's sit down do for claims the serb win of his career ahead of austria's newest mattie's and american justin rice patties took the overall title in the parallel giant s

and five days before the opening ceremony international olympic committee president thomas fox also arrived in sochi to review those final preparations and security plans the former olympic senso will oversee his first winter games after succeeding jacques rogge as i.o.c. president in september and is optimistic the event will progress without incident. we have for the confidence in the russian authorities their rights being called to take their you know all the time of their preparations we know that there are also the russian security forces that have a very close cooperation with the national security forces and that everything you said being done to where secure these three games and prayer for the athletes and all the bodies of prince enjoying their this games in a safe and secure environment and the snowboarders wrapped up there and then pick preparations at the final stage of the world cup in germany in the men's event up front is still down due for claims of the surge when of his korea head of austria snoopers mattie's and american justin right mattie's took the overall title in the

long campaigned for the nineteen thirty two victims to be remembered that olympic opening ceremony and international olympic committee spokesman said the ioc remember the victims and other official weigh in with services and by those that choose to be a day commemorating the tragedy. as i . i knew the routine use on him more the eye. need to discuss the memorials that remember the leopard is rightly taken hostage and killed of anointing seventy two lipsticks in munich and some outright dislike is rightly athletes compete in and stopped in two thousand and fourteen with scallions september is launching seventy two eleven members of the brightly lit pt with second hostage. otis going to make spinach white tights heavily armed palestinian gunman from the black september group that god's judgment of the gem a piece titled windfall i puff up like a cousin or toffees friday team were killed when the gym on base and up to the rescue of christ. we got to watch the athletes who were killed among complaints of anointing scientific tends to be remembered of the olympics might think simon is. it was bought in the run up to two t

long campaigned for the nineteen thirty two victims to be remembered that olympic opening ceremony and international olympic committee spokesman said the ioc remember the victims and other official way of services and by this that is to be a day commemorating the tragedy. as i i the region. and more. like it or not. i think . i mean the incident. how. he beat me i am. it brought to you today to upload a memorial to remember but the leopard is rightly taken hostage and killed of anointing seventy two live six in munich and some bright flight is rightly athletes compete in and stopped in two thousand and fourteen wins kinds. in september. launching seventy two eleven members of the brightly lit pt were taken hostage. what is going to make spinach white tights heavily armed palestinian comment from the protestants and the greek gods donations bother them a piece titled what's the life of the white sox's an old off the a's righty team were killed when the gym on base and up to the rescue of christ. we got to watch the athletes who were killed among some kind of annoyed incentive it tends to be remembered of the olympics

international studies. but we are just two days away now from the opening ceremonies of the winter games in sochi the head of the international olympic committee has a message for world leaders who are using the games to score political points here's his take we are grateful to those who respect the fact that sports can only contribute to development and peace if it's not used as a speech for political dissent or for trying to score points in internal or external political contests druther political leaders we say have the courage to address your disagreements in a peaceful direct political dialogue and not on the backs of the athletes. or for the games russia has built new venues around sochi to host the events are. moti as more the olympic hopefuls and bumps lady use and

opening ceremonies? >> certainly the international olympic committee is standing by sochi, standing by russia and the russianganizing committee saying yeah, things are good. yes, there has been a lot of attention in the last 24 hours because of the journalists coming in and learning that the rooms are not ready or furnished or water is not running. the ioc insists this is just 3% of the tens of thousands of hotel rooms currently in sochi. the fact is, wolf, that everything behind me, this entire olympic park, all of the dormitories and buildings and stadiums, none of this existed seven years ago when russia won the right to host the olympic games. it's all built in this mad rush of construction that has this enormous price tag of about $50 billion. the most expensive olympics yet. it's very clear that the russians still have not work the kinks out of some of this infrastructure at the very least. we have seen some of it working quite well. they insist the venues are working well. we will have to see the test. what happens when the tens of thousands of tourists come and the families of athletes. if their wate

center for strategic and international studies belliard as a few days away now from the opening ceremonies of the winter games in sochi. added the international olympic committee has a message for world leaders who are using the games to score political points here says kate. we are grateful to those who respect the fake. that sport can only be called to do with the development and peace. if it's not too was. as the stage for twenty to go to st. or for trying to score points in game started. forty two on the political compass two of the political egos we say have the car each. to address your disagreements in a peaceful and i are recorded to go buy a loaf and knocked on the banks of the athletes for the games in russia has no new menus around sochi to host the events. rt is not an artsy has more the rupee translucent blocks eighties and scanty will be chasing the dream he acts on the sliding center. the cool when he say use retelling of the true story of jamaican bobsled team has to resonate here in sunny salty the white house. the state of the track to be the way it is also not so smooth. live on the un said today. and it takes the metropolitan accident cause

international studies. but we are just two days away now from the opening ceremonies of the winter games in sochi the head of the international olympic committee has a message for world leaders who are using the games to score political points here says take we are grateful to those who respect the fact that sports can only contribute to development and peace if it's not used as a speech for political dissent or for trying to score points in internal or external political contests druther political leaders we say have the courage to address your disagreements in a peaceful direct political dialogue and not on the backs of the athletes for the games russia has built new venues around sochi to host the events our team todd has more. the olympic hopefuls in bumps lady lucia and skeleton will be chasing the dream here at the sun sliding center. the movie cool runnings say lose retelling of the true story of jamaica's bobsled team could perhaps resonate here in sunny sochi but i've always wondered how do they get the shape of the track to be the way it is and also how do they get it so smooth while i was on the onset today and it takes my college t

. >> turning to the olympics with opening ceremony set to start in sochi on thursday, the president of the international olympic committee thomas bok took a swing at world leaders, accusing them of playing politics at the witht naming names, it was at president obama, and european leaders, signalling disappointment at anti-ga laws. >> sports can only add to peace if it's not used as a stage for political dissent or trying to score points in internal or external political contests. have the courage to address your disagreements in a peaceful direct political dialogue and athletes. >> for more, i'm joined by jules boycott, author of "activism and decent." we are joined by james, sports editor at "the nation", host of, "edge of sports radio", and author of the book "game over", and commentator on al jazeera. >> shame on thomas bok. first of all his ipp sin use that u.s. -- insinuation that u.s. athletes are the puppets of pa president obama when the opposite is drew. shame on thomas bok. it's not political to have the games in sochi, which is near the chechen war zone at a cost of $51 billion. this masquerade that we are se

olympic torch traveled through the volatile region on the border of europe and asia. it will reach sochi on friday for the opening ceremony. security remains a concern throughout sochu. international olympic committeesays tens of thousands of military and police personnel have been deployed to protect the games. but the ioc president says despite the terrorist threats, visitors should feel safe. >>> coming up, no escape. a volcano surges to life with deadly results. plus, communicating with each other to keep roads safe. innovation changes our lives. opening doors ... opening possibilities. taking the impossible from lab ... to life. on techknow, our scientists bring you a sneak-peak of the future, and take you behind the scenes at our evolving world. techknow - ideas, invention, life. on al jazeera america >> every sunday night, al jazeera america presents... award winning documentaries >> revealing secrets... >> taking chances... >> everyone that was involved in the movement, had a code name. >> al jazeera america presents every sunday night, >>> welcome back. in indonesia, the search for survivors continues. after mount cinabon shot rocks 10,000 feet into the area, 1 of 129 active volcanos in th

the international olympic committee has lifted a ban against india, and the decision will allow indian athletes to compete in sochi. the opening ceremonyn moment that few athletes will ever forget, but for three athletes from india, the participation was bittersweet. they were forced to participate as independent athletes and fly the olympic flag. india had been banned from top level sporting events since 2012 after their committee was accused of corruption. >> it is the first time in olympic history that a suspension has been lifted during the games, and the decision will have an immediate impact. the decision means they can now compete for the national olympic committee of india, and will walk behind their flag at the closing ceremony on the 23rd of february. >> reporter: it comes to late for this athlete who was forced to compete as an independent athlete on saturday and sunday. but he is delighted that his country's flag will finally be rais rais raised in sochi. >> we will be very careful and see that there is actually going to be some change, and i think all of the athletes of india want to see change and good governance, and thi

evening with the opening ceremony but a number of world leaders or political figures have decided they will not attend those games however president of the international olympic committee thomas parks says that the olympic movement in the olympic games should not be used for political point scoring. we are grateful to those who respect the fact that sport can only contribute to development and peace if it's not used as a stage for political dissent or for trying to score points in internal or external political contests to other political leaders we say have the courage to address your disagreements in a peaceful direct political dialogue and not on the pics of the athletes. well that's president of the i.o.c. thomas back speaking in sochi just two days now before the start of the games. all right paul thanks very much for this and as the finishing touches are being added security of course is one of the big topics there and martin have you heard of any last minute concerns there and what's being done in terms of security in the city. that's right marina security is obviously at the word the everybody is talking about this much media hype surrounding this situation of

friday evening with the opening ceremony but a number of our world leaders who took the kids decided they will not attend his gags however president of the international olympic committee thomas bach says that the unevenly continued in the game should not be used for political point scoring. we have great forty two votes. respect the fake bids for an hour because to do with the development and peace. if it's not too was as a stage for me to go to st or for trying to score points in game two of the forty tone of political contexts. two of the political egos we say. i reached to address your disagreements in a peaceful and i recorded it but i awoke at the mosque on the effects of the athletes. last president of the iac thomas bach speaking in sochi. just two days now before the start to the games. haha thanks for much for this and and as the finishing touches are being added security of course it is of one of the big topics as they are and of march and i'm having heard of any last minute concerns there and what's being done in terms of security the city the greatest races of this web activity is talking about as much media hype surrounding the situation of the out the ri

they won't attend the opening ceremony in what's being seen as a protest against russia's so-called anti-gay law but thomas back he's the president of the international olympic committee he's in sochi at the moment and he says that the union big movement should be above and beyond any political point scoring. we are grateful to those who respect the fact that sports can only contribute to development and peace if it's not used as a stage for political dissent or for trying to score points in internal or external political contests to other political leaders we say have the courage to address your disagreements in a peaceful direct political dialogue and not on the pics of the athletes. well another issue that has been prevalent in the buildup to the games is of course the issue of security it was our number one issue for the organizers from day one but the twin suicide attacks in volgograd which is just less than a thousand kilometers from here that happened in december and it's heightened tensions it's put the issue firmly in the spotlight and my colleague martin andrews now reports on the security measures in and around sochi. defense missiles drones sophisticated s

international olympic committee and that u.n. -- and the un's secretary ban took the torch through the streets. the opening ceremonyames is on friday. this is a dress rehearsal with hundreds of thousands of musicians practicing their moves for rio de janeiro carnival. thatostumes you see one compared to what they will actually wear. the carnival, which brazilians referred to as the big show on earth will begin on february 28. speaking of costumes, a lucky tokyo zoo worker got to put on a gorilla suit for their biannual escape drill. he was asked to run through the zoo before fellow workers got him in a net and sedated him. it took more than 150-plus members of the local police and fire department to entrap the costumed ape. i hope they really did not sedate this poor guy. stay with us. another check of the market movers is on the other side of the break. "bottom line" continues in a moment. newest to check out the edition of bloomberg businessweek. you can read it on the go with the new businessweek app. we will be right back. ♪ >> get the latest headlines at the top of the hour on bloomberg radio and streaming on

opening ceremony the thing is i have two celebrations on that day the start of the games and my birthday so my mother came to support me but you . ask about a pool scott the international olympic committee polls also a few things to say today what were they talking about. yes despite reports emerging in some aspects of the media saying that there's empty seats in some of the venues in melting snow causing problems in the mountains of krasnaya polyana the international olympic committee have moved today to praise the venues on the organization of the games with one i.o.c. official even suggesting that many critics are simply seeking negative things seeking problems to criticize the games of sochi twenty forty one organizers have also said that a million tickets have been sold as we approach the halfway stage which is slightly down in vancouver four years ago but the figure is up from the games into reno in two thousand and six well r.t. has been speaking to some athletes and officials to gauge how they think the games are going as we approach the halfway stage. you know game's going to be against russia. on their home turf and in their own soil so it's going to be. i think all the games

opening ceremonies. as of saturday, three of the nine hotels reserved for thousands of journalists were not fully operational. still, the president of the international olympic committee insisted today most accommodations are ready. >> 24,000 rooms have been delivered and 97% of them without any problem. for the remaining 3%, there are still some issues to be settled. >> ifill: also today, there was word that russian authorities have hired a pest control firm to exterminate thousands of stray dogs around sochi. it's unclear how the dogs are being killed, or what's being done with the carcasses. >> ifill: the seattle seahawks today relished their first super bowl victory in what turned into the most-watched t.v. event ever, with more than 111 million viewers. the team captured the title last night, blowing out the denver broncos, 43-to-8, at the meadowlands in new jersey. a celebratory parade is slated for wednesday. meanwhile, fans struggled to get home today as a new storm dumped up to eight inches of snow in the northeast. hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed. still to come on the "newshour", heroin's deadly re-emergence; the push for "talking cars" to promo

i always see the international olympic committee and the russians, you know, they're spinning madly trying to get the focus off the security concerns and on to the opening ceremonies which take place on friday. and that's proper. the athletes have to get themselves focused. but the reality of it is, you have to be realistic, we're operating in a high threat environment for the course of these games. >> all right. well we hope that the olympics will be safe. certainly expect the super bowl to be, too. mike baker, thanks so much for your insight today. >> thank you. >>> today isn't just the super bowl. it's also groundhog's day and you know what that means. punxsutawney phil, makes a prediction. >> why that's not a football, but my shadow i see. it's six more weeks of winter, it must be! >> six more weeks of winter. the snow's already hitting some areas across the midwest and the northeast. but it still looks like clear skies will hold out. at least for the game tonight. me meteorologist live, so good news for folks sitting out there at the game. but they better get home fast. >> exactly. they are squeaking this game in. because we're watching this system move up to

opening ceremonies will get underway in just a few minutes. u.s. athletes have been arriving all week. s most expensive olympic games ever are getting underway surrounded by security and terrorism concerns. the president of the international olympic committeeer olympics have faced similar issues. >>> we had threats on athens, we had threats on sydney, maybe you remember the situation in salt lake city. there were many, so you cannot sing loud to those games in this way. >> the competitions got underway in fact, the americans did not do as well as expected in the new team figure skating event. they are now in 7th place out of 10. but there's still plenty of time for them to improve their team score. >>> we're still hearing complaints about the accommodations in sochi. one photo posted by a journalist shows litter in the lobby of the apartment where he is staying, and here's another photo of a toilet with a seat installed back wards. >> wow. time now is 8:11. back here at home, the organizers for last year's bottle rock festival in napa, they filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. court documents say br festivals $4 million short of paying its bills from last year's concert. the 5 day event took in about $11 million. but bankruptcy documents sugge