Games

What are the Games?

The Olympic and Paralympic Games are the biggest and most prestigious sporting event in the world, eagerly awaited by millions of sports fans.

The Games take place once every four years and their organization is a great honor as well as a great responsibility.

One of the key elements of the Olympic and Paralympic Games is the legacy that they leave behind for the host city and country as well as for the Olympic and Paralympic Movements. Bringing together countries and continents, the Games contribute to the spreading of Olympic and Paralympic values throughout the world.

The preparation for and hosting of the Olympic Games are governed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The preparation for and hosting of the Paralympic Games are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

In 2000, an Agreement of Co-operation was signed by the IPC and IOC, which outlined the principles of the further relationships between the two organizations. A year later, they introduced the practice of "one bid , one city”, meaning that a bid to host the Olympic Games automatically extends to the Paralympics. Furthermore, the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be carried in the same venues by one Organizing Committee.

The Sochi 2014 Games

The XXII Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2014 in Sochi will be Russia’s first ever Winter Games.

Sochi won the right to host the Winter Games at the 119th IOC session in Guatemala in 2007. Candidate cities who competed against Sochi for the right to host the Winter Games were Pyeongchang (South Korea), Salzburg (Austria), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Borjomi (Georgia), Sofia (Bulgaria), and Jaca (Spain).

The Olympic Games will be held from February 7 – 23, 2014. The Paralympic Games will be held from March 7 – 16, 2014.