About

Sochi’s magnificent and unique setting on the warm Black Sea of southern Russia complemented by the spectacular, snow-capped Caucasus Mountains—an area known as the “Russian Riviera” —will provide the Olympic Family with a “once-in-a-lifetime” Winter Games experience.

The Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games offer a unique and memorable perspective for the following reasons:

• Never before have the Olympic Winter Games been held in such a diverse natural environment;
• Never before have the Olympic Winter Games been held in the world’s largest country;
• Never before have the Olympic Winter Games been staged in Russia, a nation with a passionate and highly successful tradition in winter sport; and
• Never before have the Olympic Winter Games offered more convenience and such a compact Games plan as does Sochi 2014.

The Organizing Committee Sochi 2014’s vision is to unite the resources of the City of Sochi, the Krasnodar region and the Russian nation to develop in Sochi greatly needed sports and resort infrastructure in a sustainable, inclusive, environmentally responsible manner.

The Organizing Committee

Organizing committee ‘Sochi 2014’ (SOOC) was specially founded to organize the XXII Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games and the XI Sochi Paralympic Winter Games. The committee is an autonomous non-commercial Organization formed by the Russian Olympic Committee; the Russian Federation and the city of Sochi. They also work closely with the International Olympic Committee with the Russian Olympic Committee. The aims of the organization are laid down in accordance with item 36 of the Olympic Charter and Agreement.

In order to create a “sustainable Games,” the Organizing Committee for ‘Sochi 2014’ has agreed to:

• Accept the assistance of the Russian Olympic Committee, Russian Paralympic Committee, the city of Sochi, other national interested parties and foreign organizers concerned with Olympic Games regulating, planning and organizing.
• Provide financing for sustainable measures in the run up to and during of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. These include educational, cultural and other projects that will benefit the city and the lives of its residents. The financing also includes funding for the erection of permanent and temporary structures.
• Work in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation and the Olympic Charter. The Committee will follow the Agreement made between the International Olympic Committee, the Russian Olympic Committee and the city of Sochi relating to specific measures that need to be taken in the lead up to the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games of 2014 in Sochi, and by the constituent documents.

The Committee aims to deliver a sustainable, inclusive, environmentally responsible Olympic Games that will leave a rich environmental legacy. Some of the general aims, strategies, approaches and philosophies are outlined below. In the carbon neutrality section specific projects are outlined.

SOOC aims at promoting a sustainable approach that will celebrate Sochi’s unique natural conditions. The Games will help to develop Sochi as a city that exists in balanced harmony with the environment.

This will be done by implementing the concept of sustainable development through various environmental protection measures including the conservation of resources and the maintenance of ecological balance. The Sochi 2014 Ecological Strategy guide for Olympic-related activities encompasses venue construction and operation; marketing; procurement; transport and logistics; accommodation and catering. In these fields and more the guidelines describe how to minimize the negative impacts of such a large event on Sochi, a city valued as one of Russia’s most pristine environments.

SOOC’s activities will be supported by the Administrations of Sochi and Krasnodarski region; the State corporation “Olympstroy” and the federal ministries and agencies. They will strengthen the construction of “environmental infrastructure,” designed to protect the eco-system. In the planning and execution of the Games these committees will work together to facilitate the sustainable and harmonious development of the economy, society and environment around Sochi.

SOOC will make full use of the widespread influence of the Olympic Movement to carry out progressive environmental communication and education; promote public participation in environmental protection and raise the public awareness of environment.

SOOC aims to leave a rich and essential legacy to the city of Sochi, the Krasnodarsky region as a whole, to Russia and to the global Sport and Environment movement. This will be done through developing cutting-edge, environmentally friendly facilities; improving the environmental standards and increasing the number of protected areas in the Sochi region; and raising environmental awareness in Sochi and Russia as a whole.

[ Back to Top ]

Strategy

Goal: Carbon Neutrality

Russia is taking a leadership role in improving air quality standards. In 2004 the Government of the Russian Federation and the parliament passed a federal law ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. The Federal Target Program for the Development of Sochi and other regional programs include guaranteed funding for the following measures to protect and enhance air quality:

Construction of a high-speed electric railroad from

• Sochi Adler to Grushevaya Polyana and the addition of a second track for the commuter electric rail line;
• Comprehensive upgrade of road junctions and interchanges;
• Restriction on freight traffic within the city limits;
• Strict control over the quality of petroleum products and other fuels sold in the city;
• Incentives for consumers to increase their reliance on vehicles powered alternative energy sources;
• Rehabilitation of walking paths in the city green zone;
• Transition of municipal boiler plants from carbon and boiler oil to gas fuel;
• Increase in the number of dust and gas collectors;
• Expansion of planted areas and green belts in the city; and
• Reforestation of the Sochi National Park.

The Organizing Committee Sochi 2014 will reach its carbon neutral goal by adopting energy conservation measures in all new construction; by retrofitting existing energy production facilities to operate using renewable fuels; and by offsetting remaining greenhouse gas emissions with emission reduction credits. Investment in energy systems is targeted at US$1.75 billion.
Specific objectives to realize these goals include:

• Construction of the Adler thermal power station in the Imeretinskaya Valley;
• Conversion of four heating boiler units into mini-thermal power stations;
• Redevelopment of old city areas and new building development in a manner that will maintain the balance between natural and urban landscapes while ensuring sustainability;
• Use of new environmentally friendly and recycled construction materials;
• Reduction of power consumption through use of renewable energy within buildings;
• Use of appropriate vegetation on walls, roofs, attics and balconies to improve air and water quality, and to reduce energy consumption;
• Upgrade and redesign of several power substations and power lines to increase transmission
  and generation efficiency; and
• Introduction of gas to rural communities to replace fuels with higher carbon output. The Sochi 2014 carbon footprint will be calculated based on power use from the time the bid to host the Games was won through to the post-Games shut-down phase.
  Quantification will be based on July 2007 usage levels and projections for new facilities built for Games time. Quantification will encompass all utilized power, including the use of electricity and all air and ground transport. Emission reduction credits will be used to offset the remaining carbon footprint to reach a carbon-neutral status.

A long-term “Carbon Neutral Games” Strategy will be developed by the Organizing Committee ‘Sochi 2014’ in May 2009.

[ Back to Top ]

Photo Gallery