(ATR) Russia is already planning its biggest ever public relations blitz at an Olympics with three party venues proposed for London 2012. But one venue, meant to promote Sochi 2014, could be in jeopardy, Around the Rings has learned.
Russian Olympic bosses have already confirmed they will be hosting athletes, Olympic dignitaries, VIPs and oligarchs at Perks Field – Team Russia Park – next to Kensington Palace. The NOC and Sochi 2014 will have promotional displays, with their sponsors offered exhibition space.
But another more elaborate pavilion in Kensington Park dedicated to Sochi 2014 is facing the challenge of winning approval of authorities.
This comes after Sochi's original plans for an ice rink and temporary arts and culture pavilion at Marble Arch were rejected in October by Westminster City Council.
Expected to attract 8,150 visitors per day, the plans drew opposition from police and transport authorities over traffic congestion, security and environmental concerns. Planners said the venue would be vulnerable to a terrorist attack.
The intention now is to move the Sochi 2014 venue – including ice rink –to the west lawn of Kensington Palace near the Albert Memorial.
But a council spokesman told ATR that no planning application had yet been submitted – and "it would take about eight weeks for the council to approve the application".
"The council may consult Kensington and Chelsea, but it does not need their consent. Royal Parks will need to approve it as landlord of the site," he added.
The pavilion follows an elaborate venue used during the Vancouver Olympics to promote Russia and Sochi 2014. Housedin a futuristic science museum, the Vancouver attraction drew thousands of visitors daily and was the site of a number of press events and receptions.
If the plans for London are not approved in mid-April, Sochi 2014 organizers will be forced to scrap plans for an ice rink altogether and significantly scale back their promotional and educational plans for the London Games.
It would be a blow for organizing committee president Dmitry Chernyshenko and his team, who are eager to make a big splash for Sochi 2014 when the media spotlight falls on the 2012 Olympics. The Gamesare the first Winter Olympics for Russia.
In a statement sent to ATR, Sochi 2014 did not explicitly dismiss fears that the Sochi Center plans might not see the light of day or deny concerns over the timetable for its approval.
"Sochi 2014 is in discussions with the appropriate organizations to have a strong presence in London during the 2012 Games so that we can inform and inspire the world about our project of national importance," the statement said.
"It would not be appropriate to reveal the nature of these discussions until everything is concluded," says Sochi 2014.
ATR's inquiries with council planners have uncovered plans for yet a third party venue in London with a Russian focus. Bosco, the official sport apparel provider for the Sochi Games, is believed to have selected the Royal Academy in central London as the location for its hospitality pavilion during the Games.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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