Sochi 2014 Olympic Construction Chief Resigns

Taimuraz Bolloyev (left) pictured here with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in an undated photo

The head of construction for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi has resigned.

Russian news agencies are reporting that the head of the Olimpstroy corporation, Taimuraz Bolloyev, stepped down for health reasons.

The Black Sea resort of Sochi is building virtually all Olympic venues from scratch in a multi-billion-dollar construction effort. Originally, some $12 billion of public and private money was earmarked for Russia's first Winter Games, but that figure is thought to have increased substantially.

Bolloyev was appointed in 2009 by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. He is reportedly the third Olimpstroy chief to resign in three years.

compiled from agency reports