Sochi Airport

The Sochi 2014 team has set off for London with the aim of using the London Games to test their plans for the organization of the Games in Sochi. Employees of the Organizing Committee are going to gain Olympic experience, as along with representatives of ministries and agencies involved in the preparation for the Games in Sochi.

Earlier, "the golden hundred" Sochi 2014 volunteers flew to London: they include representatives from 14 Russian regions and are already working as part of a team of London 2014 organizers. In total, more than 300 people will visit London, ensuring that they acquire unique practical knowledge about the organization and staging of the Games.

Approximately 200 Russians, including employees of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, together with representatives from various Sochi and Krasnodar municipal service organisations will work as part of the "IOC Observer" Program. Working visits to all the key Olympic venues are planned for the Sochi 2014 observers as well as sessions and seminars in areas such as: Games Management, Organization of Client Services at the Games, Brand Protection and Management, Venues Operation at the Olympic Villages, Ceremonies, Communications and Press Operations, Legacy and Sustainability.

Moreover, some Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee employees are going through training with the London 2012 Organizing Committee, a training period that will last from 2 to 5 months. This period will include both training and direct staging for the Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as the Post-Games Time.

Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee employees are involved in various roles alongside the London 2014 Organizing Committee: Logistics, Venue Management, Village Management, Transport, Accommodation, NOC/NPC Services, Event Services, Uniforms, Cleaning, Waste removal and many others.

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

"As soon as the London Games are over attention of the sports community will turn to Sochi. We are next in line – so the Games in London will become a platform for our team to gain knowledge and experience and to test the existing plans. I have no doubt that the Games in London will be a great success so our task will be to make the most of this excellent opportunity to gain first-hand experience.”