This week saw Sochi 2014 take another important step on its journey to hosting top quality Olympic Winter Games in 2014, with the Sochi 2014 Orientation Seminar being held in the Russian Capital, Moscow. The seminar allowed the IOC, whose delegation was led by Coordination Commission Chairman Jean-Claude Killy, to share with the people that will be responsible for organising the Games in 2014 some best practices from previous Games and to lay out the framework of partnership that will guide preparations over the next seven years.
Common Vision
Commenting on the seminar, Killy said, "We have been able to share with the Organising Committee and its partners, this week, a common vision of how we will work over the coming seven years on this exciting and complex project, as well as share some of the important lessons that have been learned from previous Games organisers. This will allow the different entities involved in these Games to work in a more efficient manner, as we work together to put on some truly magnificent Winter Games for the athletes of the world in 2014."
Presidential Council
As well as speaking to the delegates at the seminar, Killy and Gilbert Felli, the IOC Olympic Games Executive Director, attended a meeting with the Presidium of the Presidential Council responsible for the preparations of the Olympic and Paralympic Games at the Russian Parliament – the White House. This encounter allowed Killy and Felli to brief the top level of the Russian Government on the contents of the seminar and how the IOC would work with the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee. It was also the opportunity for the IOC team to discuss the positive effects that the Games could bring to Sochi and Russia.
Olympic Challenge
Following the visit to the White House, Chairman Killy noted, "The meeting with Prime Minister Zubkov and the other members of the Presidium was a very important and encouraging meeting for the IOC. It showed us that the entire Russian Government and sporting community are behind this project and that they are ready and willing to take the decisions that need to be taken to finish the Games project on time." He continued, "Our meeting at the White House and the discussions during the orientation seminar have shown us that Russia, as a nation, is behind the Games in Sochi and it is are well prepared to take on this Olympic challenge."
Sochi 2014
Sochi was elected as the host city for the XXII Olympic Winter Games at the 119th IOC Session in Guatemala City on 4 July 2007. Sochi won the vote against the cities of Salzburg (Austria) and PyeongChang (Republic of Korea) in the second round of voting. The Russian city edged out PyeongChang 51 votes to 47, with Salzburg having been eliminated in round one. The Sochi Games will play host to the seven Olympic Winter sports currently on the Olympic programme and will run from 7 to 23 February 2014.
