Sochi celebrates 100 days to go

In celebration of 100 days to go, Paralympic lessons are taking place across the country and Sochi 2014 volunteers are arranging flash mobs in support of Paralympic athletes.

To mark 100 days to go until Russia's first ever Paralympic Winter Games, a unique sculpture park was opened in Sochi on Wednesday (27 November).

This project is the result of the joint efforts of children with an impairment from the cities across Russia and a prominent contemporary art group comprised of notable individuals in the Russian art industry.

In celebration of 100 days to go, Paralympic lessons are taking place across the country and Sochi 2014 volunteers are arranging flash mobs in support of Paralympic athletes. The countdown to the start of the Paralympic Games is being marked by OMEGA clocks in nine Russian cities.

The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games are a unique opportunity to see the world’s best Paralympic athletes compete in five Paralympic sports. Nearly 700 athletes from about 45 different countries will take part in the Games.

The President of the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko, said:

"During seven years of preparations for the first ever Paralympic Games in Russia, the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee has been raising awareness of Paralympic values and Paralympic Games. These efforts have contributed to the changing attitudes in Russia towards people with disabilities.

“Accessibility standards developed by the Sochi 2014 project serve as an example for the whole country. Sochi 2014 has launched a unique Internet project, "Accessibility Map," implemented by the Organising Committee in conjunction with the United Country foundation for people with disabilities. Internet users have mapped more than 12,500 barrier-free facilities throughout Russia, so people with disabilities can easily find venues to go in for sports close to their home.”

In the Games host city of Sochi, the culmination of the 100 days to go celebration was the final of the third "Class Mira" All-Russian Inclusive Creativity Competition. Children and teenagers with disabilities across the country took part in it.

From 17-27 November, the creative programme for this event was guided by prominent contemporary Russian art personalities: artist and designer Andrey Bartenev, artist and set designer of the State Academic Bolshoi Theater Galina Solodovnikova, and artist and sculptor Aleksander Pokhilko.

Together with seven young finalists they created a sculpture park in front of one of the main attractions of the city, the Sochi Art Museum.

As 2013 is Year of the Museum of the Sochi 2014 Cultural Olympiad, this year's "Class Mira" was devoted to sculpture. More than 120 children and young people with disabilities 10-18 years old across the whole Russia participated in the competition. Contestants had to complete on of the following tasks: prepare a sketch entitled "Portrait of a Friend," create a collage from magazines and newspapers, or provide a photo of a model animal sculpture made of clay.

The competition is designed to help children with disabilities develop their strengths and express their creativity. An expert jury selected seven works to be put on display.

Also, as part of 100 days to go celebration Paralympic lessons were held throughout the country. The programme was implemented with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education.

In many cities of Russia, Sochi 2014 volunteers demonstrated how they will support Russian athletes at the Paralympic Games in Sochi. In the streets and squares, 100 days to go before the start of the Paralympic Games, volunteers depicted the roaring stands. The video filmed by volunteers will be basis for inspirational film "Come to cheer with us!"

The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games will take place from 7-16 March. To purchase your tickets, please visit http://tickets.sochi2014.com/.