British Olympic Association Impressed with Sochi 2014 Preparations

With less than two years to go until the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, a senior winter sport delegation from the British Olympic Association (BOA), led by Mike Hay, Head of Winter Sport, has last week completed a five-day visit to Sochi to see the progress of Sochi 2014 sites and venues.

During their visit, the BOA delegates were given a warm welcome by senior representatives of the Sochi 2014 management team as they reviewed the development of all of the Olympic venues and facilities.

The BOA delegates said:

"Visiting Sochi this week has been truly inspiring and acts as a huge motivation for us in the build up to Russia’s first Winter Games.

"While the eyes of the world will be turning to our home city of London this year, we’re also excitedly looking towards Sochi 2014 – which will be just over a year away by the end of London 2012.

"As an NOC, you’re looking to ensure the athletes have the very best venues and facilities to allow them to deliver their best performance. From what we have seen in Sochi this week, our athletes will benefit from a truly world class environment."

The BOA’s visit included a number of detailed tours to see the Olympic venues and facilities first-hand which will aid their planning for the Games. These included:

Mountain cluster

Mountain Olympic Village

Endurance Athletes Village

"Laura" Cross Country Skiing and Biathlon Centre (Cross-Country and Biathlon)

Rosa Khutor Alpine Center (Alpine Skiing)

Russian National (RusSki) Ski Jumping Center (Ski jumping and Nordic combined)

Russian National Sliding Center (Bobsleigh, Skeleton and Luge)

X-treme Snowboard Park and Freestyle Center (Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding)

Costal cluster (Olympic Park)

Coastal Olympic Village

"Bolshoy" Ice Dome, Maly Ice Palace (Ice Hockey)

"Ice Cube" Curling Center (Curling)

"Iceberg Skating Palace (Figure Skating and Short Track Speed Skating)

Olympic Oval Skating Centre (Speed Skating)

Olympic Family Hotel

The British Olympic Association (BOA) and the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to identify areas of mutual cooperation and strategic partnership ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. The Memorandum is designed to mutually benefit sports and aspiring Olympic athletes from both countries and the two organisations will cooperate in the development of excellence in sport performance and Olympic preparation.

For more information, contact: sochi2014media@webershandwick.com

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