28 february 2010

Sochi receives the Olympic Flag as next Winter Games Host City

Sochi receives the Olympic Flag as next Winter Games Host City

Five Olympic champions, a World champion hockey star, a top supermodel, a world-class soprano, a globally revered conductor, children and ‘Zorbs’ – giant spheres like snow globes, maneuvered by performers inside – took centre stage in a packed BC Place Olympic stadium on Sunday night, as part of a spectacular show to mark the Olympic Flag Handover to Sochi – the host city of the next Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

With hundreds of millions of people watching worldwide, Sochi 2014 presented an eight-minute showcase of sport, culture and innovation, representing modern Russia, as part of the Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony. Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia, Dmitry Kozak and Alexander Zhukov and the President and CEO of Sochi 2014, Dmitry Chernyshenko, looked on from the stands, witnessing the first worldwide showcase of Sochi 2014.

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

“This is an emotional day for Sochi 2014 and for millions of Russians. We have been thinking about this day for the last six years since the start of our Bid.

“Now we are officially the host city of the next Winter Games and it is a great feeling. We are working hard to answer the expectations of the world and we will stage a truly innovative Games that showcase modern Russia and leaves a lasting legacy for sport and society.”

As part of Sochi 2014’s commitment to innovation, for the first time in an Olympic Handover ceremony digital technologies connected the audience in Vancouver to Sochi and the Russian capital, Moscow, sharing the celebratory atmosphere across time and space.

At the end of the ceremony, the crowd simultaneously held up red, white and blue twinkling snow globes, representing the Russian colours, and demonstrating Sochi 2014’s intention to involve people from all cultures and backgrounds.

Moments before the show, IOC President Rogge, handed the Mayor of Sochi, Anatoly Pakhomov the Olympic Flag in front of a capacity crowd and thousands of winter sports athletes from around the world. This officially marked the moment when Sochi became the Host City for the next Olympic Winter Games.

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Comments

1 march 2010

Harold Crowell

Good Morinng Mr. Chernyshenko

As a Canadian CItizen who has just witnessed many of the athletes and their successes and failures in the past Olympics held at Vancouver, Canada, I want to pass along my congratulations to you and the Russian Community in your success of obtaining the next World Olympics to be held in Sochi, Ru in 2014.
I also wish you the best of success in your endeavours for a production that meets or succeeds any past Olympic event.
I truly believe that the 2010 Olympics has done much to bring the wowrld together and I anxiously await the commencement of the next Olympics hosted by your country.
2 march 2010

Dennis Watson

Sochi is beautiful. Now it’s your turn. We hope to visit you in 2014. We love you Ruskies.
http://finiansworld.blogspot.com/2010/03/wasnt-that-party.html
3 march 2010

Victoria

Dear Dmitry Chernyshenko and the Sochi Team!

Wonderful performance by the Russians at the Vancouver Olympics closing ceremony! It has successfully incorporated the legacy of the past and presented some new ideas and approaches. I wish you to put together attractive, meaningful and remarkable events in Sochi. I am sure you will as you have a capacity, resources and passion to do so. We love you guys, so please get rid of all current disappointments and official turmoil, focus on building success and make us proud of you while watching the next Olympics.
5 march 2010

Anna MacKay

Best of luck for Sochi2014! I loved visiting Sochi House and the Sochi part of the closing ceremonies. We had such an amazing time in Vancouver, we are really looking forward to 2014. The model of the venues in Sochi House made up our minds to go to the games in 2014. Best of luck, look forward to the updates as the time gets closer.