LONDON — After all the talk of terror threats, corruption, overspending and anti-gay legislation, the head of the Sochi Olympics is determined to show the world the games will be a huge success.

Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is “fully ready” and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations.

“History will be made,” he said of Russia’s first winter games.

With Sochi facing threats of terrorist attacks from insurgents from the North Caucasus, Chernyshenko said the city is the “most secure venue at the moment on the planet” and promised that tight security will not detract from the atmosphere of the games.

“I can assure you that Sochi will be among the most security-friendly games and all the procedures will be very gentle and smooth,” he said in a conference call with reporters.

Russia is deploying more than 50,000 police and soldiers to guard the Olympics. A Muslim militant group claimed responsibility for back-to-back suicide bombings that killed 34 people in Volgograd in late December and threatened attacks on the games.

“You will see thousands of (security) people around but it’s important to understand that the Olympics is a global event and the security is also a global multinational event and state authorities are doing (their) utmost to deliver Sochi as safest for everyone,” Chernyshenko said.

– The Associated Press