The Georgian Olympic Committee (GOC) has written to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) asking them to consider the change.

 

Giya Natsvlishvili, the newly elected president of the GOC said: "We are not boycotting Sochi Olympic Games.

 

"We ask IOC to shift Olympic Games to safer place."

 

Russia and Georgia fought a war in August.

 

More than 160,000 people fled fighting that broke out August 7, on the day before the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing, when Georgian forces launched an attack to regain control of South Ossetia.

 

Russian forces repelled the attack, drove deep into Georgia, and stayed there for several weeks.

 

Russia still has thousands of troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and has recognised both as independent nations.

 

Natsvlishvili said: “Georgia supported holding of Olympic Games in Sochi, but the situation was not so dangerous at that time.

 

"If Russia does not fulfill commitments undertaken to the international community, it can not hold the Olympic Games in Sochi impartially.

 

"Otherwise, no one will hold responsibility for security of sportsmen and trainers.

 

"We do not control Abkhazia and if something happens in this territory during Olympic Games, we will not be able to hold responsibility for this.

 

“We call you [the IOC] to make such a decision which will enable to hold 2014 Winter Olympic Games in a peaceful manner."

 

Sochi, a Black Sea resort, was awarded the Olympics last year, defeating bids from Salzburg and Pyeongchang in South Korea.

 

Salzburg has now offered to host the event if Sochi are unable to.

 

Salzburg Governor Gabi Burgstaller said: "Our great advantage is that we already have almost all our sports facilities."

 

However, Sochi's organising committee said in a statement released by London-based public relations agency Weber Shandwick this evening that they were committed to hosting the Games in 2014.

 

It said: "Sochi 2014 is Russia's national priority project for the benefit of millions of people.

 

"Everything is firmly on track according to the development schedule agreed by the International Olympic Committee.

 

"We have a very productive relationship with the IOC and during the last project review this October we have got very positive feedback on our progress.

 

 

"Our finances are guaranteed by the Russian Government and we look forward to welcoming the world to Sochi in more than five years time."