POSTED: Friday November 20th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sochi exchanging Olympic best practice in Lausanne

World Union of Olympic Cities Summit is being held in the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.

20 November, 2009, Lausanne, Switzerland – The host city of Russia’s first Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2014, Sochi, is participating for the first time at the World Union of Olympic Cities Summit, which is being held in the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. Mayor of Sochi, Anatoly Pakhomov, and Sochi 2014 President and CEO, Dmitry Chernyshenko, are representing the city at the event.

Mayors of cities that have previously organized, will organize or are currently considering organizing the Olympic or Youth Olympic Games arrived in Lausanne, the center of the Olympic Movement and the location of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters.

IOC President, Jacques Rogge, welcomed Summit participants and acknowledged the value of Olympic cities coming together to share their experiences and ideas for the future. He said:

“The IOC has committed to ensuring that a city understands as early as possible the importance of integrating the Olympic Games into its long-term urban development strategy, in order to leave the best possible urban and sporting legacy to the country, the city and its entire community. This is why the IOC supports the Lausanne Summit and the General Assembly of the World Union of Olympic Cities, which will be the perfect platform to share and exchange information and knowledge.”

Sochi entered the World Union of the Olympic Cities in September 2009. The World Union of the Olympic Cities aims to; study the impact of the Olympic Games on host cities in consultation with the IOC, particularly in terms of sustainable development; promote the contemporary Olympic Cities as international centers for sport, culture and international development; promote the educational values of the Olympic Movement; increase the link between cultural initiatives and Olympic institutions; and support the cities that integrate the Olympic values with the aim of promoting peace.

During the Summit 2009, participants will discuss the best ways in which to incorporate Olympic legacy into urban strategy, how to keep the Olympic flame burning from host city to Olympic City, and also the various challenges a city should tackle prior to embarking on a bid. The Summit participants will also visit the Olympic Museum.

Mayor of Sochi, Anatoly Pakhomov, said:

“More than two years have passed since Sochi gained the right to host 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Sochi has changed a lot in that time. These changes happened thanks to our commitment to actively modernize urban infrastructure by adopting best practice from previous Olympic Games host cities”.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sochi 2014 President and CEO, said:

“Sochi is a committed member of the World Union of the Olympic Games. By regularly participating in the international exchange of Olympic knowledge, Sochi will benefit from best practice, while helping others through the experience we gain in preparing for Russia’s first Winter Games. We believe we can offer much to our fellow cities, as Sochi 2014 will be truly innovative and break new ground for a Winter Games.”

# # #

Keywords · Sochi 2014 · Winter Games · World Union of Olympic Cities Summit · Olympic Museum · Lausanne · Switzerland

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

Please refer all questions to the company listed above issuing the press release. SFC will not be able to assist you with any inquiries and disclaims any content in these press releases.