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Organizers for Russia’s first Winter games arrive in Vancouver First details of ‘Sochi World’ and Flag Handover Ceremony revealed.

The President and CEO of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko, has arrived in Vancouver to lead a 150 strong team of Sochi 2014 specialists taking part in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Observer Program at the 2010 Winter Games.

In Vancouver the representatives of Russia’s first Winter Games will also promote the city of Sochi as the next Winter Games host city and demonstrate Russia and the Krasnodar Region’s rich and vibrant culture.

The IOC Observer Program will ensure that the Sochi 2014 team gain a unique understanding of the organization of a Winter Games, following their active participation at the Beijing 2008 Summer Games. The Russian delegation will see for themselves the latest developments and most modern Games staging techniques four years ahead of Sochi 2014.

Sochi 2014 President and CEO, Dmitry Chernyshenko, said:

“One of our key aims here in Vancouver is to test our operational plans in conditions that are as close to the ‘real thing’ as possible. The Sochi 2014 senior team will have the opportunity to practice and develop our specialist knowledge. Then we can confidently apply international best practice to Russia’s first ever Winter Games.”

Best Practice

Sochi 2014 will also benefit from the formal IOC debriefing in Sochi in June 2010 – this event will summarize the experience of VANOC and recommend areas that Sochi 2014 can build on. Through a careful and thorough analysis of Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014 will be able to fulfill its vision by incorporating the lessons of the previous Winter Games.

The Sochi 2014 team, together with Russian ministries and agencies involved in the preparation for the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, have collated over 7,000 questions relating to various aspects of Games preparation in an effort to garner essential knowledge and understanding of international best practice.

During the 2010 Winter Games, Sochi 2014 specialists will participate in 65 seminars and more than 130 planned meetings. Members of the Organizing Committee team include celebrated Russian athletes, who will be studying how to apply their knowledge of competition to the organization of the Sochi 2014 Winter Games.

Many professional Russian athletes have been working in the Organizing Committee for several months, including Olympic speed skating champion Svetlana Bozhanova, Torino 2006 Olympic Games participant Kirill Serikov, and 2006 European champion in curling Olga Zharkova.

Sochi World readies for opening

The iconic official venue of the Russian delegation in Vancouver 2010 – Sochi2014.ru World, Russky Dom or ‘Sochi World’ for short – will open its doors a week today, organizers of Russia’s first Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games have revealed.

Vancouver’s famous dome-shaped Science World facility has been transformed into Sochi World, set right in the heart of the 2010 Olympic Host City near the BC Place Stadium that will host the Vancouver 2010 Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Sochi World will allow visitors to become better acquainted with Russia, the Krasnodar Region and the city of Sochi after its official launch on 11 February, through interactive demonstrations of the Sochi 2014 concept, Russian International Olympic University, city and region, alongside exhibits, presentations and seminars with Sochi 2014 staff and partners.

Open throughout the 2010 Winter Games until 28 February, Sochi World guests can enjoy performances from leading Russian and Canadian artists. With the consent of the Chef de Mission of the Russian Olympic Committee, Sochi World will welcome and celebrate Russian athletes throughout the 2010 Winter Games.

Chernyshenko remarked: “Sochi World is Russia’s showcase during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. It is our opportunity to create a bridge from Vancouver to Sochi and provide a taste of our vision for the Sochi 2014 Winter Games.”

Russian cultural celebrationsinVancouver

While in Vancouver, Sochi 2014 organizers will not only present the concept of the Sochi 2014 Games, but will also invite the Olympic Family, sports fans and general public to embrace Russia’s rich culture.

During the 2010 Winter Games a cultural program called ‘Sochi 2014 Days in Vancouver 2010’ will be staged. Beginning on 10 February with a ‘Moscow Soloists’ concert in the Orpheum Theatre, overseen by Sochi 2014 Ambassador and world-renowned conductor, Yuri Bashmet, the cultural program will bring together a variety of artists – from ‘Gorky Park’ to the ‘Kuban Cossack Chorus’, and the hip-hop group ‘The Battle for Respect’ to the ‘Moscow State Chamber Choir’, conducted by Vladimir Minin.

Sochi 2014 Flag Handover Ceremony first details

During the Closing Ceremony of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, the Mayor of Vancouver will pass the Olympic Flag to the Mayor Sochi, as the representative of the host city of the next Winter Games.

During an 8-minute show, Sochi 2014 seeks to connect space and time and take the audience on a journey that takes in Vancouver, Sochi, Moscow and back to Vancouver. Participants in the Flag Handover Ceremony will include supermodel Natalia Vodianova, maestro Valery Gergiev, Olympic champions Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov and international opera diva Maria Guleghina.

In late 2009, “.ru” and mirror images of “Sochi 2014” representing Sochi’s ‘sea and mountains’ location became key elements of the new Sochi 2014 brand. In Vancouver, Russian organizers will continue this journey showcasing a contemporary Russia built on a unique heritage, while reflecting Sochi 2014’s commitment to ensuring Russia’s first Winter Games are the most innovative and inspirational ever staged.