The President and CEO of Sochi 2014 expressed his pride at the sense of national belonging and passion for sport the Russian football team inspired during a 2008 UEFA European Championship that saw them reach as far as the semi-finals in Vienna on Thursday night.

The semi-final was just days before the one year anniversary of Sochi 2014 winning the right to host Russia's first ever Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. In the same way that Sochi 2014 promises to be a catalyst for inspiring future generations to take up sport, the Russian national side sparked instant football fever in Russia, with youngsters in many other countries even proudly declaring themselves 'Arshavin' or 'Akinfeev' in playgrounds and parks where they could emulate their new heroes.

In recent times, Russia has successfully hosted the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final in Moscow and won the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest watched by more than 100 million people on television, the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships, the 2008 UEFA Cup with Zenit St. Petersburg, and the right to host the 2013 Universiade (University Games) in Kazan.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, President and CEO of Sochi 2014, said:

"Our national football heroes have inspired Russians, but also people around the world with their performances at UEFA Euro 2008. They have been a source of great national pride, in the same way that we hope Russia's first Winter Games in Sochi will be in 2014 and through the lasting sporting, social, economic and environmental legacy the Games will leave behind. Congratulations to them for reminding people about the joy and teamwork sport brings."

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