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Australia Restricts Travel for Athletes in Sochi

SOCHI — The Australian Olympic Committee has imposed travel restrictions on team members in Sochi, advising athletes not to travel into downtown areas outside the secured perimeter of Olympic Games venues.

Team chief Ian Chesterman outlined the restrictions Saturday, saying they followed general advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs to "exercise a high degree of caution" in Russia.

Chesterman said the 60-member team was allowed to travel only on official Olympic transport between venues and not to go beyond "the security perimeters."

He says "I do not think it will detract from the experience because the highlights of these Games are the regions they can still go to."

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