“Picking Sochi to host the Olympics was a risk from the beginning. For years, tensions have been brewing in the region east of the Black Sea city. Riots continuously erupt between Russians and Caucasians. The federal subjects of Kabardino-Balkaria, Chechnya and Dagestan — only some 300 kilometers (186 miles) — are active operational zones for Islamist terrorists.
In the past year, 33 attacks shook the North Caucasus. Since October alone, 139 people have been killed by terrorists. Back in September at a meeting of the Security Council of Russia, Putin called for the mobilization of all forces to ensure the safety of the Winter Games.”
Source: Elite Spetsnaz Fighters Protect Sochi Winter Olympics from Terrorism – SPIEGEL ONLINE