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Sochi World officially closed its doors when the Olympic flame was extinguished at the Central Stadium in Vancouver.

The Closing Ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Kozak, Governor of the Krasnodar Region Alexander Tkachev, Mayor of Sochi Anatoly Pakhomov and Sochi 2014 President and CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko.

The Olympic flag relay in Russian style

Following the closing ceremony of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, during which IOC President Jacques Rogge handed the Olympic flag to the Mayor of Sochi, Anatoly Pakhomov, the Olympic Flag was taken to Sochi World. During the celebrations at Sochi World, a relay took place, where the Olympic Flag was passed between 2010 Russian Olympic medalists, medalists of previous Olympic Games and representatives of Sochi 2014 National Partners. Ivan Skobrev, double Vancouver 2010 medalist, was the final flag bearer.

Record-setting hospitality

The closing of Sochi World put an end to a project of unprecedented scale that told the world about the Sochi 2014 Games and introduced guests to a modern Russia and its rich culture. Located in one of Vancouver’s most familiar sites, the Science World museum, Sochi World became a real ‘must-see’ pavilion in Vancouver during the Winter Games. Throughout its 17 days of operation, more than 120,000 guests visited Sochi World, who were not deterred by long lines nor the weather.

Numerous exhibits, a giant-screen in the Omnimax Theater, a sport bar and a diverse daily cultural program attracted Vancouver 2010 guests to Sochi World throughout the Games. Thanks to Sochi World’s connection to the Olympic telecenter in Vancouver, fans were able to watch the competitions in real time and were among the first to know about the latest news from the Olympic stadiums.

Sochi World also hosted representatives of official delegations from more than 50 different countries, including Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin, for whom a virtual tour was organized via a special video conference. Honored guests also included IOC President Jacques Rogge, Premier of British Columbia Gordon Campbell and heads of international sports federations and national teams.

Additionally, Sochi World became a base for over 500 accredited journalists from all over the world. Nineteen events took place in Sochi World’s Press Center, including a press conference with Russian Olympic medalists and experts in various aspects of Games preparation.

Sochi World also hosted the first official presentation of the Russian International Olympic University and it was also where Sochi 2014 acquired a new Partner- RZD Russian Railways.

Medals and legends in Sochi World

Olympic medalists and legendary athletes visited Sochi World: Soviet hockey players, Olympic Champions Alexander Yakushev, Alexey Kasatonov, Victor Tikhonov; international hockey stars Wayne Gretzky, Chris Chelios and Alexander Ovechkin; Olympic medalists and Sochi 2014 Ambassadors Evgeny Plushenko, Maxim Shabalin, Nikita Kriukov, Ivan Skobrev and many others.