Launch of Construction Completes International Olympic Day Festivities

Sochi, Russia, June 23, 2006 – Sochi 2014, the Russian Bid to host the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, officially launched construction of an Olympic Park, the first venue to be built as part of the Russian government’s ambitious Federal Target Programme for the Development of Sochi – 2006-2014 (FTP). The programme is designed to upgrade Sochi to the level of a year-round, world-class resort destination.

Amidst the festivities to mark the International Olympic Day in Sochi, the ceremonial laying of the first stone of an Olympic Park by the Sochi 2014 Olympic Bid Committee members and the Mayor of Sochi Viktor Kolodyazhny was a true highlight. Turning the FTP’s promise into reality, the new Olympic Park is a crucial first step in preparing Sochi to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2014, should the city win this honour.

Located in Sochi’s Imeritinskaya Valley along the Black Sea coast, the Olympic Park’s site made it an ideal location for a modern tourist complex, in keeping with the rapid development of the Sochi region. The FTP’s $11.7 billion USD investment programme for the Sochi region provided timely support, which was necessary to begin construction before the second half of 2007. The site’s completion is slated for 2013.

The planned Olympic Park will include an Olympic Village, a Curling Centre, an Ice Arena and an MPC. In the event that Sochi does not win the right to host the Olympic Winter Games in 2014, the site will be used as leisure centre, housing a convention hall, a series of 5-star hotels, and entertainment and trade centres.

An impressive group of officials were present at the launch. The group included Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Zhukov, Sports Minister Vyacheslav Fetisov, Russian Olympic Committee President Leonid Tyagachev, Russian President Envoy to the Southern Russia Dmitry Kozak, Governor of the Krasnodar region Alexander Tkachev, Mayor of Sochi Viktor Kolodyazhny, President of INTERROS holding company Vladimir Potanin, and Sochi 2014 Bid Committee CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko.

Mr. Chernyshenko said: “This is a great day and a great opportunity for Sochi and the region. The construction of an Olympic Park is an important step in the development of the region, proving the power of the FTP to deliver on its promises. Should Sochi win the right to host the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the site will be part of a lasting legacy for all of Russia.”

The Olympic Day celebration in Sochi was also marked by various sport activities, including a young athletes’ running competition, a cycling race, and games for children with disabilities.

The cyclists delivered snowballs from the slopes of Krasnaya Polyana Mountains, the proposed location of the 2014 alpine events, to the centre of Sochi. Legendary figure skater and three-time Olympic champion Irina Rodnina was among the group of Russian athletes who attended the race. The group also included Svetlana Zhurova, the Sochi Bid member and Torino 2006 Olympic Champion in speed skating, Alexey Nemov, Olympic Champion in gymnastics, Sveltana Horkina, Atlanta and Sidney Olympic Champion in gymnastics, and Alexey Voevoda, the silver medallist of Torino 2006 in bobsleigh and a native of Sochi.

The Olympic Day celebration also included an extreme sports show and a large rock and pop music concert. Spectacular fireworks concluded the day.

For further information, please contact:
Sochi 2014 Bid Committee – Andrey Braginski
media@sochi2014.com
tel: +7 495 7394649