The Olympic Games

The 2014 Winter Olympics, officially the XXII Olympic Winter Games, or the 22nd Winter Olympics, will be celebrated from 7 to 23 February 2014, in Sochi, Russia, with some events held in the resort town of Krasnaya Polyana. Ninety-eight events in fifteen winter sports will be held. Both the Olympic and Paralympic Games are being organized by the Sochi Organizing Committee (SOC).

Sochi was selected as the host city on 4 July 2007 during the 119th IOC Session in Guatemala City, defeating bids from Salzburg, Austria; and Pyeongchang, South Korea. The Sochi Olympics are the first Winter Olympics (and first Olympics altogether) for the Russian Federation, as the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow were in the Soviet Union.

Construction in preparation for the Games involves the building of new venues; and modernizing the telecommunications, power, and transport infrastructure of the area. This will include the construction of a new Olympic Park by the Black Sea coast in the Imeretin Valley, with venues clustered around a central area. The venues in Krasnaya Polyana will also be new.

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The Olympic Games are the most important sporting event in the world. Hundreds of athletes prepare for it their whole lives and those who make it to the Olympic podium become an example to millions of others. Their achievements remain part of the history of the sport and of the Olympic Movement forever.

The modern Olympic Games have a history that dates back thousands of years and are currently at the very peak of their development.

In October 2009, Copenhagen hosted the XIII Olympic Congress, which was unprecedented in its scope. Following the Congress, decisions were made which determined the direction of the Olympic Movement’s development for the next 15 years.

Among them was the decision to expand the Summer Olympic Games program: from 2016, rugby and golf fans alike will be cheering on their favorite athletes at the Olympic Games competitions.

The Olympic Games in Sochi will be holding events in 15 disciplines of 7 winter sports:

Biathlon
Bobsleigh: Bobsleigh and Skeleton
Curling
Ice Hockey
Luge
Skating: Figure Skating, Short Track Speed Skating and Speed Skating
Skiing: Alpine, Cross Country, Nordic Combined, Ski Jumping, Freestyle and Snowboard

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The Olympic Skating Center plays a crucial role in the Sochi 2014 concept. The Olympic Skating Center is a moveable venue . As such, it is located at the heart of the Coastal Cluster – Olympic Park.

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The "Bolshoy" Ice Dome is part of the complex of facilities operated by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The complex includes the «Bolshoy» Ice Dome, the “Shayba” Arena and a training rink. All Ice Hockey venues are located in close proximity to one other, providing maximum comfort for athletes and guests of the Games.

The "Bolshoy" Ice Dome complex will have a capacity of 12,000 seats and will be covered by a dome. The design of the "Bolshoy" Ice Dome is based on the image of a frozen drop and will be principally silver once complete.

After the Games, the "Bolshoy" Ice Dome will serve as an ultra-modern, world-class multi-purpose sports and entertainment center.

The name of the Ice Dome highlights the characteristics of this sports venue. The "Bolshoy" will be one of the biggest Olympic venues for hosting events and will house the most popular sport of the Winter Olympics, ice hockey. Equally, the word "Bolshoy" is understandable and familiar to representatives of many different countries, evoking an instant association with Russia’s Bolshoy Theatre, the traditions of the Russian school of ballet, figure skating, ice hockey and other achievements of the biggest country in the world.

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The "Fisht" Olympic Stadium is located in the Olympic Park so that the spectators have a magnificent view on both mountain peaks in the north and the sea in the south.

The design of the "Fisht" Olympic Stadium in Sochi is unique across Russia. For the first time in the construction of a large-scale structure, a translucent polycarbonate roof will be used which will give the building an appearance of snowy peaks, ensuring it sits in harmony with the landscape of the Imeretinskaya Valley and the Caucasus Mountains.

In the building’s design safety for visitors, workers, and athletes was paramount. Moreover, environmental risks and losses related to the building construction and use have been minimized. The stadium’s design was developed to meet the requirements of the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) as well as international best practice in accessibility for people with disabilities.

After the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Games the "Fisht" Olympic Stadium will be used as a venue for Russian national football team matches and as a training center. It will also host mass entertainment events and shows.

The Fisht Mountain reaches 2,857m above sea level and is one of the most famous mountains in Russia. In translation from Adyghe language, the name means "white head", "white frost" or "grey-headed". The mountain obtained its name from the ice at its peak. The shining snow cap also serve as the prototype for the original architectural concept for the "Fisht" Olympic Stadium. Incidentally, the transparent roof of this sports venue means that spectators in the stadium will be able to see the whole mountain from its foot to its peak.

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