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In this Friday, Jan. 17, 2014 photo made available by Presidential Press Service on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin, listens during an interview to Russian and foreign media at the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, which will host Winter Olympic Games on Feb. 7, 2014. President Vladimir Putin once again has offered assurances to gays planning to attend the Sochi Olympics, but his arguments defending Russia’s ban on homosexual “propaganda” to minors show the vast gulf between how he understands the issues and how homosexuality is generally viewed in the West. In an interview with Russian and foreign television stations broadcast Sunday, Putin equated gays with pedophiles and spoke of the need for Russia to “cleanse” itself of homosexuality as part of efforts to increase the birth rate. (AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Presidential Press Service)Alexei Nikolsky/Associated Press

Islamic Militant Group Threatens Strike on 2014 Sochi Olympics

Tim KeeneyJan 19, 2014

In a video that has recently surfaced, two Islamic militant group members took credit for last month's suicide bombings in Volgograd, Russia, and threatened more attacks at the upcoming 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

According to the Associated Press, via ESPN.com, "two Russian-speaking men" appeared in the video holding automatic rifles. Not only did they take credit for the bombings in Volgograd, which claimed the lives of over 30 people, but they also assured more blood would be spilled, via CNN's Laura Smith-Spark and Catherine E. Shoichet:

"We've prepared a present for you and all tourists who'll come over. If you will hold the Olympics, you'll get a present from us for the Muslim blood that's been spilled."

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While this is undoubtedly a scary development, Russian president Vladimir Putin assured the safety of everyone who will be in Sochi during February's Olympic games, per the CNN report:

"
We will try to make certain that the security measures are not intrusive or too conspicuous, so they are not too noticeable for the athletes, the Olympics' guests or journalists.
But at the same time, we will do our utmost to ensure that they are effective.
Security is to be ensured by some 40,000 law enforcement and special services officers. Of course, we will draw on the experience acquired during similar events held in other regions of the world and in other countries. It means that we will protect our air and sea space, as well as the mountain cluster.
"

Putin also said that Russia has a "perfect understanding" of the threat and how to stop it.

Not everyone in the United States is nearly as confident.

According to the CNN report, United States Senator Angus King said that he wouldn't go the Games or let his family attend, while House Intelligence Committee Mike Rogers, via CBS News' Rebecca Kaplan, has said that the Russians haven't been cooperating "on a security front" with the Americans.

As unfortunate as all of this is, there will always be safety threats and security concerns when it comes to high-profile events, and the Olympics are about as high-profile as it gets.

Hopefully, though, all of this early attention will only help Russia prepare its security properly and make for a safe Games for everyone involved.