Russia’s Putin to Make First Ever Speech in English to Support Olympic Bid

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin will Wednesday make his first ever English speech, addressing the Olympic Committee and the general public worldwide, the Lenta.ru website reported Tuesday.

Moscow hopes this will boost its chances of hosting the 2012 Olympic Games.

“Tomorrow our president is going to do something no Russian president has ever done before,” Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov said at a press conference in Singapore where the Olympic Committee is holding a meeting.

“This is to prove that we would do anything — even betray our traditions — to make Moscow the Olympic capital of 2012. It is no secret that we are devoted to sport and the Olympic movement,” Moscow Mayor added.

http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/07/05/putinenglish.shtml