MOSCOW — Prime Minister Vladimir Putin wants to move some venues planned for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, saying ecological concerns are more important than costs.

The southern Russian resort city was chosen last year to host the Winter Games despite environmentalists' complaints that some construction would damage the region's complex ecology.

But Putin, in a meeting today in Sochi with environmentalists and construction officials, called for some of the facilities — the bobsled track and the athletes' village for snow sports — to be relocated to other sites in consultation with the International Olympic Committee.

"In determining priorities — money or ecology — we choose ecology," Putin said. "If the balance of nature is upset, this could lead to a situation that would be impossible to restore for any money."

Both the bobsled track and the athletes' village were planned for the undeveloped Grushevy Ridge, adjacent to a nature reserve. Along with the possible damage to the pristine area, environmentalists warned the track would obstruct animal foraging tracks.

Such a change is likely to raise already-high concerns about the massive amount of construction needed for the Olympics. The Sochi region, although a popular resort for Russians, has poor infrastructure and underdeveloped sports facilities.

Putin asked Olympics construction chief Viktor Kolodyazhny whether changing the sites would throw off the construction timetable. Kolodyazhny said "we will try" to keep on schedule.

"That's not an answer," Putin responded.

"We will build these facilities on time," Kolodyazhny corrected himself.

Putin later told top IOC representative Jean-Claude Killy he was confident construction will be completed on schedule. The French skiing great welcomed the change, saying it could help avert long-term problems.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, head of the Organizing Committee for the Sochi Olympics, said the relocation shouldn't be too costly.

"Even if we lose some money, it will be a good investment in the future generation," Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Russia as a whole and Putin in particular have significant prestige riding on the games — the first Winter Olympics the country has held, even though it has been a major force in winter sports.

IOC assessors were concerned about the huge amount of construction, including ice-sport venues, two athletes' villages and a light-rail system connecting the seaside ice venues with the snow-sport facilities about 30 miles away in the rugged Caucasus Mountains.

Putin's appearance at the Olympic committee meeting that chose the winning bid — in which he gave an address in English for the first time — was seen as key to the bid's success. He was Russian president at that time.