POSTED: Friday March 6th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sochi 2014 marks five years until Russia’s first Paralympic Winter Games with launch of major accessibility program

The program’s aim is to create an accessible city that will be a model for all cities in Russia to follow.

 
March 6, 2009, Moscow, Russia – With exactly five years to go until the start of Russia’s first ever Paralympic Winter Games, Sochi 2014 has announced a major program to ensure that the Black Sea coastal city is fully accessible for people with disabilities by the time it hosts Paralympic competition.
The program’s aim is to create an accessible city that will be a model for all cities in Russia to follow. This will ensure that the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games leaves a tangible legacy for the 15 million people with disabilities across Russia.
By Games-time, a range of services for people with disabilities will be on offer in the city – this will include wheelchair rental and service centers as well as the availability of specialist equipment to assist individuals with a range of physical disabilities.
Sochi 2014 is committed to not only meet, but also exceed, the requirements of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for Paralympic Venues. As a result, Sochi 2014 facilities will be developed with special facilities for disabled spectators, this will ensure that their enjoyment of the events will be guaranteed.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sochi 2014 President and CEO, said:
“As President and CEO of Sochi 2014, I am committed to ensuring that during the preparations for Russia’s first Paralympic Games we ensure that every possible step is taken to exceed the expectations of the IPC. During the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games, people with disabilities will have the ability to move around freely, watch each of the different competitions and visit the tourist and recreational areas of Sochi.”
The creation of an accessible environment involves several aspects which have been considered by Paralympic Games experts at the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee. They will ensure that Sochi’s sporting and transport infrastructure and legal framework will meet the needs of people with disabilities. The Organizing Committee will also ensure that education programs for volunteers, emergency services staff, law enforcement personnel and Sochi 2014 partners are conducted.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sochi 2014 President and CEO, added:
“The 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi will set new standards of infrastructure and comfort for people with disabilities. We will be working tirelessly to create an innovative and inspirational Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2014. I hope Russia’s first Winter Games will be able to change social attitudes towards people with disabilities and if this is achieved we will have succeeded in our mission.”
 
The official opening ceremony for the XI Paralympic Games will be staged on 7th March 2014 at the Sochi Central Stadium. Competitions will be held in five sports: alpine skiing, ice sledge hockey, cross-country skiing, biathlon and wheelchair curling.

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Keywords · Sochi 2014 · Paralympics

Name: Xenia Reizhevskaya
Organization: Sochi 2014
Email:
Phone: +7 (495) 984 2014
URL: http://www.sochi2014.com

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