Sochi 2014

 The next winter Olympic Games will be held in Sochi, Russia from February 7-23 2014.  It will host the most compact Winter Games in the history of the Olympic Movement as it will be possible to get from one venue to another in just a matter of minutes! The competition this year is intense as some of the world’s best athletes will participate in test events (international tests on the sporting disciplines) which are on a scale comparable to the staging of two Olympic Games. The disciplines covered can be seen below:

Olympic disciplines: ice hockey, speed skating, short track speed skating, figure skating, curling, ski jumping, Nordic combined, biathlon, skiing, alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboard, bobsleigh, skeleton, luge.

Paralympic disciplines: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, wheelchair curling, biathlon, ice sledge hockey.

Although the summer Olympic Games may be more famous, and boasted a spectacular opening ceremony in 2012, Sochia promises to deliver. Jean-Claude Killy, chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission has said that “The Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Games will be seen by somewhere in the region of two billion people and needs to be a beautiful spectacle”. The Deputy Prime Minister, Dmitry Kozak, is also sure of the upcoming spectacle, commenting that the Winter Games have given a powerful boost the development of technology, and consequently, “The Games in Sochi will be shown entirely in HD format and advanced Ultra High Definition technology will be used in Sochi”. We’re excited to hear this as it demonstrates the long way we have come from 1968 when the first Olympic Games were televised live in Colour in Mexico! If you are not able to get a ticket as they are currently selling out within the first few hours of availability, then the full experience can be brought to you within the comfort of your own home.

However, we’re assured that these games are not to be missed if you have the opportunity as Russia endeavour to surpass the levels of excellence previously achieved. The Olympic Torch Relay itself has broken several records as 14,000 torchbearers will carry the flame through Russia, travelling by various forms of transport (including hot air balloon!) in order to pass through 2,900 Russian cities and villages. The Relay began on 7 October 2013 and will conclude at the ‘Fisht’ Olympic Stadium on 7 March 2014. Wherever you are, make sure you tune in for this special ceremony which will show the world a new Russia based on community instead of stereotypes; the torchbearers range from athletes to volunteers to public figures to people with a disability…the only condition is that they are over 14. 

For more information about the games, or to check out any of the sporting schedules, go to Sochi’s official website!

http://www.sochi2014.com/en/