The Mayor of the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Village, Zhili Chen, today took the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin for a tour of the Athletes’ Village in Beijing, accompanied by the Chairman of the Sochi 2014 Supervisory Board, Alexander Zhukov and the President and CEO of Sochi 2014, Dmitry Chernyshenko.

During the visit, the delegation asked a crowd of Russian Olympians about how they had enjoyed the spectacular Beijing 2008 curtain raiser and discussed the high standard of facilities provided for athletes in the Olympic Village.

The visit came the morning after Prime Minister Putin attended the Opening Ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, demonstrating his continuing commitment to the Olympic Movement and Sochi 2014. He was joined by Dmitry Chernyshenko, who has pledged to spend his time in China’s capital learning valuable lessons to enhance Russia’s first ever Winter Games.

During Beijing 2008, the Sochi 2014 delegation is taking part in the official Olympic Observers' Programme. Sochi 2014 will look to supplement its growing knowledge of Games preparations with expertise from the Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee and through experiencing first hand what it takes to deliver the world?s greatest event.

Dmitry Chernyshenko and his colleagues will further develop their understanding by meeting with key members of the International Olympic Committee, International Sports Federations, elite athletes and previous Olympic hosts, and share their experiences with fellow Olympic Games Organizing Committees: Vancouver 2010 and London 2012.

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