Sochi 2014 Looks Back On Successful Year and Forward To Continued Progress

At the end of a victorious year, Sochi 2014 have held their final Supervisory Board Meeting, where the Sochi Olympic organizers declared that they have ended 2007 on a positive note with all preparations for the Games either on, or ahead, of schedule.

Summarizing the results of the year Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sochi 2014 CEO, stressed that the Organizing Committee has successfully achieved all of the pre-determined targets and is now looking ahead to the major milestones for 2008.

Dmitry Chernyshenko stated the main achievements in 2007 as:

* Introduction of the Olympic Law – which saw changes to Russia’s existing legislation that will offer the best conditions for the Games preparation and organization.
* Set up of an effective and powerful administration structure - with the State Corporation and the Organizing Committee overseen by the President’s Council - which ensures that Sochi 2014 has the perfect blend of State and private as well as national and local involvement in the organisation of the Games. The whole structure is enshrined in Russian democratic Law and this gives Sochi 2014 the legitimacy it needs to pursue the construction of the Games within a very tight timeframe.
* Establishment of a trustworthy and close partnership with the IOC that has already started with the knowledge transfer processes and will continue apace in 2008. This mutual cooperation is aimed at organizing the most outstanding Olympic Winter Games in the history of modern Olympic movement.
* Construction work has already begun at Sochi 2014 key venues: the ski station and towers for a gondola ski lift are under construction in Roza Khutor Alpine Resort (Snowboard and Alpine Skiing); construction work is now under way in a Hotel Complex Karusel which will serve as the biggest accommodation facility for media in the Mountain Cluster; and the Gazprom Alpine Resort (Biathlon, Cross Country Skiing and Nordic Combined) is nearing completion of phase 1, ready to open to the public in the beginning of 2008.

The Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko said:

"2007 was an amazing and very fruitful year for Russia, for Sochi and for me and my team. The success of the bid proved that Russia can rise to any challenge and succeed. We have now entered another race – a race to get the Games prepared on time and within budget. I am delighted with the start we have made. This is just the beginning and there are plenty of significant challenges that lie ahead but we are ready for, and will meet, these challenges. I am very proud to see the progress Sochi 2014 has made since securing the Games in July: we have a powerful administrative system, trustworthy partnership with the IOC and an approved schedule for the successful delivery of the Games."

Sochi 2014’s first goals for 2008 include introduction of the Olympic brand protection measures, implementation of the Master Schedule Plan and preparations for the IOC Coordination Commission visit to Sochi which is to take place on April 22 – 24.