MOSCOW - Russian authorities have taken into account all "specific threats" which could occur before and during the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday.

"As for the security threats, they are quite common at public events around the world, not just in Russia, though the threats in Russia are of a specific nature. We have certainly taken them into account during the preparations for the Olympics, and we continue to do so," Medvedev told CNN in an interview published by the government's press service.

Calling the Sochi Games "truly a big event for Russia as well as for the world", Medvedev assured that the authorities have mobilized sizable police force to monitor the Olympics.

Other services will be involved if needed, he added, proceeding that it would be wrong to only rely on security measures that are being taken today. The existing threats occur not only in the context of the Games. "We are constantly battling them," Medvedev said.

"The fight will continue, Games or no Games," he promised.

Even during the construction of the Olympic facilities the special services have monitored the process, Medvedev revealed.

The Russian Prime Minister expressed his hope that the U.S. special services would cooperate with their Russian colleagues to ensure safety of the event.

Noting that he does not think the threat is greater at the Sochi Olympics than at other Olympics in other countries and regions, Medvedev stressed he has been confident that "everything will be fine" and the Sochi Olympics will be excellent.

According to him, in total 1.2 million tickets have been sold, and as many as three billion people will be following the Olympics in some way.

The 22nd Winter Olympics are due on February 7-23.