Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova has said that athletes should feel "safe" during their stay in Sochi for the Winter Olympics.
Security in the Russian city has come under scrutiny in recent weeks because of the two suicide bomb attacks in Volgograd in December 2013.
"The security has been tough but in a very safe way and in a safe manner," the 26-year-old told CNN in Sochi. "As an athlete, security is really important.
"I experienced it in the Summer Games and really appreciated it. I think it's extremely important and we all expect that kind of safety.
"For many years we were hearing whether everything would be ready or not: whether the rail stations would be ready, how were the athletes going to go up to the mountains from the Olympic Park. All those questions raised a lot of concerns, but once I got here I realised that everything would be alright."
The opening ceremony of the Sochi Games will take place on Friday.
Subhankar Mondal
