Accessibility High on Agenda for Sochi 2014

Said Mr. Sagarra: "Creating an environment without barriers, with Sochi becoming an accessible and barrier-free city for the Sochi 2014 Winter Games and beyond will help to create a legacy with real social impact on Russian society.”

During two days of meetings, the Commission, including International Paralympic Committee (IPC) representative Miguel Sagarra (IPC Vice-President), received an update from the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee (Sochi 2014) on a number of key areas of Games preparations, including venues, infrastructure, construction, environmental protection, accommodation, transport, education, communications, marketing, technology, legacy and Paralympic preparations. Sochi 2014 stakeholders, including representatives of the Russian Government, Olympstroy State Corporation, the Russian Olympic and Paralympic Committees, Krasnodar Region and the City of Sochi, joined the Organizing Committee in the meetings.

In regards to Paralympic Games preparations, Sochi 2014 presented a very ambitious Barrierfree Programme concept, which would contribute to enhance the living conditions of people with a disability in Russia. During the Paralympic working group, accessibility provisions and the concept of the Paralympic Villages (Costal and Mountain) were discussed.

Said Mr. Sagarra: “We are very satisfied with the great foundations laid by the Organizing Committee for the first Paralympic Winter Games in Russia. Creating an environment without barriers, with Sochi becoming an accessible and barrier-free city for the Sochi 2014 Winter Games and beyond will help to create a legacy with real social impact on Russian society.”

During a series of high-level meetings in the end of April, representatives from the IPC, including IPC CEO Xavier Gonzalez, already received an overview about Sochi 2014's functional areas and planning.

The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games will be held from 7-16 March 2014.