IOC Dismisses Security Impact on Sochi Hospitality Program

(ATR) The IOC denies that security concerns surrounding the Sochi Games could impact the number of corporate guests enjoying the hospitality programme laid on by Olympic sponsors.

The Games have come under threat from Islamic militants in recent weeks, while Russian authorities are still trying to hunt down a "black widow", whose terrorist husband was killed by Russian security forces, who is believed to be in or near Sochi.

After Sochi 2014 last week admitted that 30 percent of tickets have yet to be sold for the Olympics, there are worries that heightened security fears, combined with disaffection for Russia’s anti-gay law, will scare off corporate guests travelling to the Black Sea resort.

IOC marketing chief Gerhard Heiberg told Around the Rings last week that some of the IOC’s TOP sponsors "are worried and they have every reason to be worried" about how possible protests against Russia’s human rights records might hurt their brands.

Asked Thursday about reports suggesting security concerns could deter attendees for sponsors’ hospitality programs, he told ATR: "No I don’t think so. Of course everybody is occupied with the thought ‘what about security? can we be safe enough?

"The easy answer is yes we have full confidence with Russian authorities."

Timo Lumme, managing director of IOC Television and Marketing, also rejected the suggestion,, telling ATR: "Our Olympic partners plan their marketing activations and hospitality programs well in advance of each Games.

"For Sochi we are not aware of any of our partners changing their plans for their hospitality programs. Security is clearly a top priority for us and the Sochi 2014 organising committee and we have full confidence in the security plans the Russian authorities have in place to deliver a safe and secure Games ."

But Gunilla Lindberg, secretary general of the Association of National Olympic Committees, told ATR that she thought international visitors to the Games would be down on previous Games. And she revealed that the hospitality houses for NOCs would not be on the scale of Vancouver 2010.

"Yes I don’t think it will be as many foreign spectators. Firstly, it is difficult to reach, expensive, and also with concerns about security," the IOC member from Sweden said.

Commenting on NOCs hospitality, she said NOCs had found it real challenge to find locations for their ‘houses’ "and most of all expensive".

Of the 80 NOCs expected to be represented at Sochi 2014 – one of the largest number at a Winter Games – she said only 10 or 15 "quite a low number compared to other Games" will put on hospitality.

At the Vancouver Olympics, there were around 25 NOC hospitality houses, she added.

Lindberg said that the Sochi 2014 Games would be one of the best for athletes with the three Olympic Villages easily accessible.

"I think they will be happy, everybody can walk to them," she said.

Written by Mark Bisson.

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