Winter Olympics 2014 to be held in Sochi

Sochi, situated on the Black Sea, in Krasnodar in southern Russia, has been chosen to host the Winter Olympics in 2014. The small seaside town and the villages in the mountains rising behind Sochi will be transformed into a venue for a massive international sports spectacle on the principle of sustainable development. This means in practice that, after the Olympics, Sochi will become a Russian Riviera, a luxurious and versatile resort for active holidays. After the Olympics, Sochi will also be a centre for sports science, research and training.

The Russian Federation together with various Ministries and regional administrative authorities will be responsible for the construction of the Olympic venue. Both Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin are keen supporters of the project. The Olympics belong to the remit of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Kozak. The construction is being organised by Olympstroi, headed by Taimuraz Bollojev. Experts from different parts of the world are being sought as partners for the Russian construction organisations.