Maria Sharapova “Sochi is the city where my love of tennis began when I was just four years old, watching my father on the local courts. I am thrilled to support Sochi’s bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and urge all sports enthusiasts to do the same. Sochi 2014 would leave an unprecedented social, sporting and environmental legacy for Russia and the Olympic Movement, and would mean that the region’s youngsters would no longer have to travel to the other side of the world to realize their potential.“

Russian National Bobsleigh Team Alexander Zubkov, Philipp Egorov, Alexei Seliverstov, Alexei Voevoda.

Evgeny Dementiev “Sochi 2014 is a technically excellent Bid that centres on the needs of athletes and would be a dream come true to compete in. I've already been extremely fortunate to enjoy incredible moments at the Olympics, but Sochi 2014 would be Russia's first ever Winter Games, despite being the world's largest winter sports nation. It will provide an incredible opportunity to showcase the 'new Russia' to the world and encourage further positive change, while also inspiring millions of youngsters to take up winter sports, for the good of the Olympic Movement.“

Nikolay Kruglov “When just a few meters remain before the finish line, you have to call on all of your powers to make that final sprint to the end. Despite the previous hours of racing already behind you and the fatigue that weighs you down, you actually speed up, against all understanding, and that is how you win the gold. Sochi’s Olympic bid is in the homestretch now and victory is in sight, with a good sprint to the finish all that is required. It’s a great pleasure and a great responsibility for me to become a Sochi 2014 Ambassador and I’ll do my best to help the Bid cross that line in first place and bring the Olympic Winter Games to Russia for the first time in history.“

Vladimir Spivakov «I support holding 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi with all my heart, because I know very well how big the output of such events may be. The highest level of Russian musicians' performance is due mostly to international festivals and competitions that serve as a sort of an impetus for a musician to play even better. I'm sure that the same happens in sports: international competitions make the athlete press for better results and achieve new records. Winter Games, as the main event in winter sports, will give a unique impetus to develop national sports and will leave behind a multitude of world records achieved by Russian athletes».

Maria Petrova and Alexey Tikhonov Maria Petrova: “I expect that Sochi will one day light the Olympic flame. Russia is ready to host the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, we have great experience with large-scale sporting events and we’ll do our best to stage excellent Games that surpass all expectations. Our country is home to many sports champions, and it would be an honor to host the Games for the first time in Russia.“ Alexey Tikhonov: “It’s a great honor for me to become an Ambassador for Sochi 2014. Our Bid is a unique opportunity to host the Olympic Winter Games in Russia, the world’s largest winter sport country with 143 million people passionate about winter sports. The 2014 Olympic Winter Games will leave a lasting legacy for Russian winter sports, inspiring generations to come with Olympic ideals“.

“Legendary Five“ of the Russian Ice Hockey Vyacheslav Fetisov, Alexey Kasatonov, Sergey Makarov, Igor Larionov, Vladimir Krutov

Mikhail Terentiev “I am fully aware of the power of one’s will on the road to victory. This drive to win helped me to come back to sports and to become a gold medalist at the World Championships and the Paralympic Winter Games. When there is a goal and a strong desire to reach this goal, then victory is almost certain. Russia faces a long road to winning the right to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2014. I am confident that Russia’s will to host the Games for the first time in history and the outstanding legacy that this represents for the country will give them the power to overcome any hurdles ahead.“

Russian National Tennis Team for the 2006 Davis Cup Evgeny Korolev, Nikolay Davydenko, Dmitry Tursunov, Mikhail Youzhny, Marat Safin

Maria Butyrskaya “Sochi 2014 is a technically excellent Bid, which I would have been honoured to compete in. The Winter Games will provide an incredible opportunity to showcase the “new Russia“ to the world and encourage further positive change, but importantly, it will also inspire millions of youngsters to take up winter sports, for the good of the Olympic Movement.“

Dima Bilan “Drive is the engine. I think that if Sochi wins, the Olympic Games will pass drive to our people, an incredible energetic unifying power. Already the whole country is behind Sochi’s Bid to host the Games. I am pleased to be an official Ambassador for Sochi 2014 because I feel that sport provides me with the same positive emotions as music does. I am happy to help my country to host its first-ever Olympic Winter Games. If Sochi wins, I will be able to sing at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2014“.

Essau Kanyenda “It's the fourth year that I have been playing football in Russia, and I must say that Russians' respect for sports, their brilliant managerial skills and rich sports traditions are not just words. Such a professional approach to sports will allow organizing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi in strict compliance with all the IOC standards. Russia has a track record of hosting major sports events and the 2007/8 UEFA Champions League final in Moscow is excellent proof that the country is ready to host the Winter Games.“

Nikita Mikhalkov “Sport has always been a big part of my life and I was honoured to be elected as President of the All-Russia Tennis Association in 1990. It's the best way to keep fit and relax, especially when I've been working hard on a film. Hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi in 2014 will inspire so many people to take up winter sports and it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase the 'new Russia' to the rest of the world.“

Igor Butman “When I was a child I dreamt about becoming an ice-hockey player, not a saxophonist. I tried to combine my love of sport with my passion for music, including playing the clarinet at ice-hockey arenas and even holding a hockey stick when it should have been my instrument! In the end I became a saxophonist, but recently the paths of sport and music have converged and I've been taking part in the “Stars on Ice“ show on TV. Sport is a part of every day life in Russia and I consider the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi to be the ultimate showcase of Russia’s winter sports tradition.“

Evgeny Kafelnikov “I was born in Sochi so hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games there in 2014 would be incredible for me as well as for all the Russian people. I was proud to win my Olympic gold medal for Russia in Sydney and I could only dream of winning Olympic gold in my country. Now Russian athletes are only a few steps away from that dream to win Olympics of their motherland. Sochi 2014 has a gigantic support in our country and it inspires a huge mass of youngsters to take up winter sport. I'm giving the Bid my full support and I'm sure that step-by-step we'll get the support of the entire nation behind Sochi's Bid.“

Alexander Popov “As a member of the International Olympic Committee and a proud Russian, I am in full support of the Sochi 2014 bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The bid is representative of the changes that have taken place in Russia to date and the Games would act a major catalyst to continue this progress. The Olympics in Sochi will transform the region and leave behind an incredible legacy based on the values of the Olympic Movement.“

Alexei Nemov “During my gymnastics career I was fortunate to compete at a major championships in my home country – at the Goodwill Games in 1994. Sadly, Russia did not host the Olympic Games, but I would have loved to strive for the gold medal in front of our passionate fans, who embody the Olympic Movement. I am backing Sochi’s bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2014 because it will leave a lasting legacy for athletes and the Russian people.“

Anatoli Karpov “Russia has always been passionate about sport and Sochi’s bid to host the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games provides a real opportunity to inspire a whole new generation of athletes and supporters. The Winter Games in Sochi would transform the region and leave a incredible legacy for the nation. We want to show the world the new Russia and Sochi 2014 would allow us to do that.“

Evgeny Plushenko “The Sochi bid for the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is not only a technically excellent bid, but hosting the Games will also leave a lasting legacy that is unprecedented in Olympic history. I hope that I am still competing at the highest level in 2014, so I can fulfil my dream of winning Olympic gold in Russia. The dream of Sochi 2014 is not only mine, but one of a nation ready to embrace Olympic values and demonstrate the new Russia to the rest of the world.“

Nikolai Tsiskaridze “Millions of people across the world celebrate and embrace Russian culture, through ballet, sport and the gifts left by our great artisans of the past. Yet Russia is carving out a new, modern identity. A young and dynamic generation are emerging and spreading the message of the new Russia around the globe. If successful, Sochi's bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games would create the perfect showcase of positive change and also the catalyst for a legacy that’s effects will be felt by the people of Russia long after the Games have gone.“

Yelena Isinbaeva “Athletes dream about winning the Olympic gold medal in front of their home supporters and the Sochi 2014 bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games could make that come true for future Winter champions. I am backing the Sochi bid because it will turn the spotlight on the new Russia and inspire a whole new generation of athletes and supporters to embrace Olympic values. Sochi’s Winter Games plans will leave a legacy that the Russian people will benefit from for years to come.“

Irina Slutskaya “Sochi's bid for 2014 Olympic Winter Games would be the first time Russia has ever hosted the Games. The bid carries the hopes and dreams of young athletes and the whole Russian nation. It would be a celebration of the new Russia and drive further positive changes in the nation. Above all, a Russian Games would inspire future generations of Olympic champions and millions of winter sports enthusiasts. The plans for Sochi are highly innovative and I offer the 2014 bid my full support.“

Kostya Tzsyu “Russia, like Australia, has a huge passion for sport. Sochi's bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2014 will give Russians the chance to show the world its pride and commitment to sport and to the new Russia, which will be greatly helped by the strong legacy the Olympics will leave behind.“

Irina Lobacheva and Ilia Averbukh Irina Lobacheva: “Russian support was inspiring during our career and if Sochi hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2014, a sporting nation will be behind the competitors. Russia embraces the Olympic Movement and we want the chance to show the world what the new Russia really means.“ Ilia Averbukh: “Sochi 2014 would be Russia’s first Winter Games, despite topping the medal tables several times. Not only does the Sochi bid have the blueprint for a truly unforgettable Games, it will also result in the regeneration of an entire region, which is what the Olympic Movement is all about.“

Svetlana Khorkina “The Sochi bid for the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games represents an incredible opportunity to showcase the new Russia and allow the country to embrace the Olympic Movement. Sochi 2014 would be the first time Russia has ever hosted the Winter Games and would benefit enormously from the legacy the Olympics would leave behind. From an athlete’s perspective, Sochi’s plans are very thorough and with just 11 venues in two clusters, aim to make the Games the most compact and efficient in Olympic history.“

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