POSTED: Tuesday April 14th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games bringing lasting benefits for people with disabilities

Sochi 2014 Paralympics

 
 
April 14 2009, Moscow, Russia – Preparations for the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games have kick-started intensive work to bring Russia’s national legislation into further alignment with international standards. A latest development saw Deputies from Russia’s State Duma, together with representatives of leading public organizations, discuss Russia’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.
 
Staged in a roundtable format, the meeting was attended by member of the Sochi 2014 Supervisory Board, Paralympic Champion and General Secretary of the Russian Paralympic Committee, Mikhail Terentiev. He said:
 
“It is worth highlighting that our federal law on the social protection of people with disabilities is considered one of the most innovative anywhere, and is a major asset to international convention. The basic provisions of the Russian Constitution also conform to global standards, and we are focused on making it as easy as possible to apply these.”
 
“At a recent meeting of the Presidential Council for People With Disabilities, the President supported my initiative to establish governed disability councils in each region of Russia. And Dmitry Medvedev supported the initiative. Moreover, work with disability organizations will form an important part of judging the executive authority action.”
 
The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games will help to accelerate social cohesion, give access to winter sports and improve quality of life for the 11 million people in Russia living with disabilities. As well as all sports venues in Sochi being fully equipped for people with disabilities in keeping with International Paralympic Committee (IPC) requirements, the region’s transport vehicles, infrastructure, and information provision will also be enhanced for the enduring benefit of residents and visitors with disabilities.
 
Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sochi 2014 President and CEO, said:
 
“The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games has reinforced Russia’s commitment to social advancement. In preparation for the Games and Sochi’s continued development into a world class tourist destination, we will set new standards for urban planning and development to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Sochi and across the nation.”
 
The IPC’s Project Review visit, which takes place in Moscow from 27-29 April, will further explore the staging of Russia’s first ever Paralympic Winter Games.
 
To date, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities has been signed by 139 countries, including Russia, and ratified by 51.
 

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Keywords · Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games · Olympic Games

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

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