Russia Celebrates 100 Days to Go until Sochi 2014

At 20:14 Moscow time on October 29, the OMEGA countdown clocks, located in nine Russian cities, struck 100 days to go until the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi and marked the final countdown until Russia’s first Olympic Winter Games. The symbolic date was celebrated with activities throughout Russia, including the installation of Olympic Ring Spectaculars in Sochi, Ryazan, New Urengoy, Salekhard and Kaluga; Olympic classes in Moscow and other cities around the country; as well as a Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay celebration in Kaliningrad.

As part of the festivities, the official Sochi 2014 uniform for volunteers and staff, provided by BOSCO, a General Partner of the Sochi Games, was unveiled.

During the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the colorful uniform will be worn by over 40,000 Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee employees and volunteers. Symbolically, staff and volunteers will wear the same uniform, signifying that they form one team delivering the Games. This is similar to the Games makers at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The use of a unique uniform during the Games underlines the important role of volunteers, who will make up a significant part of the entire Games workforce.

The vibrant outfit for volunteers and staff was developed specifically for the needs of the workforce at Games-time. The main design element of the uniform is Sochi 2014’s «patchwork quilt» design from its visual identity, which represents the different regions of Russia. The core uniform set consists of more than 10 items and includes an insulated jacket, a sweatshirt, a polo shirt, trousers, a cap, a hat, gloves, shoes, a backpack, and a number of accessories.

The set for staff and volunteers working in the Mountain Cluster will also include ski pants, thermal underwear, waterproof raincoats, and protective shoe covers.

The uniform’s design makes it at the same time practical, comfortable, and multifunctional. For example, the ski jacket consists of two elements: a waterproof top jacket and an insulated one. The jacket’s two elements can be worn either together or separately, depending on weather conditions. The jackets also have a large number of functional pockets for radios, headphones, cellphones, and lift passes, and is equipped with a detachable hood. On the insulated jacket-vest the sleeves can be detached transforming it into a more comfortable vest for working inside, while the pants are equipped with a carabiner for attaching gloves or keys.

Chevrons with the Olympic Rings or the Paralympic Agitos have been created and can be fixed to the clothing with velcro, zippers, or buttons, which will allow the same uniform to be worn during both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The President of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko, noted:

"In 100 days, Sochi 2014 employees and volunteers will proudly wear the official Sochi 2014 uniform created by Sochi 2014 General Partner, Bosco. This colourful outfit will become another striking symbol of the Sochi 2014 Games. We are extremely proud that the Sochi 2014 workforce will wear this uniform and that it will contribute to the spirit of celebration around our Games."

"With 100 days to go before the start of the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi we are ready. The Olympic spirit is sweeping across the country and city, and the Olympic venues await their guests. We are in the home stretch, as the athletes complete their training; volunteers from across the country are preparing to come to Sochi; and the staff of the Organizing Committee are working hard and taking history’s longest national Olympic Torch Relay to the people of Russia. We are all hugely excited about welcoming the world to Sochi and are looking forward to that special moment on February 7, 2014, when the Olympic cauldron will be lit at the Fisht Olympic stadium, signaling the start of Russia’s first Olympic Winter Games."

For those looking to have a once in a lifetime experience and wishing to witness world class sport and culture in Sochi this winter, tickets are still available at tickets.sochi2014.com. In this second phase of sales, which started on 10 October 2013, fans are able to purchase tickets with pre-allocated seats for the sports events and Ceremonies. For all orders that include delivery and are placed before 1 November, spectators will receive uniquely designed souvenir tickets.

The public can also continue to purchase tickets for the Paralympic Winter Games on the Sochi 2014 website.

To gain entry to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, all spectators must obtain and bring their Spectator Pass with them to the venues.

For pictures, please visit Sochi 2014’s Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43767123@N02

For more information contact:Press Service for the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee

sochi2014.com | media@sochi2014.com | +7 495 984 2014

As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.

These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only