Transport routes around the Black Sea coastal city of Sochi, which will host Russia's first ever Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2014, are set to benefit from the introduction of a state-of-the-art satellite-based navigation system.

Russia's version of the GPS - the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) - will help to monitor and regulate traffic flow on commuter routes, ensuring residents and visitors can move quickly and easily around Sochi.

The system is expected to be fully operational across Russia before 2010, but it is being introduced early on commuter buses in Sochi. As a two-way link to each bus, GLONASS will help traffic controllers establish a vehicle's location, its speed and fuel consumption. Should traffic problems occur, buses can be easily redirected.

GLONASS will mean that bus drivers will no longer need to use a microphone to name stations, as this will be done automatically by means of the satellite system. Virtual tours may become an option in a city that stretches for 147 kilometres along the Black Sea coastline. It is anticipated that the navigation system will use up to 24 satellites by 2010. It currently consists of 18 satellites and has been designed to provide navigation and positioning data covering the whole of the Russian Federation.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, President and CEO of the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee, said:

"Satellites monitoring and supporting the transport network around Sochi are just part of the innovation we will bring to the Winter Games in less than six years time. Sochi 2014 will be a truly state-of-the-art sports event and the comfort of international visitors and members of the Olympic Family is fundamental to our highly compact Games concept."

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