winter Olympic Games 2014 (XXII Winter Olympic Games)- international sport's event, which took place from February 7 to February 23, 2014 in the Russian city of Sochi.

Select city

On June 22, 2006, IOC President Jacques Rogge named three candidate cities out of seven applicants (Haka, Almaty, Sofia, Borjomi, Sochi, Salzburg, Pyeongchang). They were Sochi, Salzburg and Pyeongchang.

On July 4, 2007, the next, 119th session of the IOC took place in Guatemala, at which the host city of the Olympics was chosen.

Immediately before the voting, presentations of the candidate cities were held. Sochi was represented by athletes: Svetlana Zhurova, Evgeniy Plushenko, Mikhail Terentyev (Paralympian) and Alexander Popov; sports functionaries: Vyacheslav Fetisov, Elena Anikina, Shamil Tarpishchev, Dmitry Chernyshenko and Vitaly Smirnov; politicians: Vladimir Putin, Alexander Zhukov, German Gref, Alexander Tkachev, Viktor Kolodyazhny.

In the first round of voting, in which 97 participants representing IOC countries took part, Austrian Salzburg was eliminated. In the second round, Sochi's application won, beating Pyeongchang by 4 votes (51 versus 47). Thus, Russia became the host country of the Winter Olympic Games for the first time.

Jacques Rogge demonstrates the name of the city that won the fight for the right to host the 2014 Games

Talismans

The Polar Bear, Leopard and Bunny were chosen as the mascots of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

They chose mascots with difficulty and adventure. Several votes were declared invalid, winning options were rejected, and voting dates were postponed.

The final voting results were as follows:
Leopard (author Vadim Pak, Nakhodka) - 28.2% of votes
White Bear (author Oleg Serdechny, Sochi) - 18.3% of votes
Bunny (author Silvia Petrova, village of Novoye Buyanovo, Yantikovsky district, Chuvashia) - 16.4% of the votes.

The choice was criticized. In particular, it was pointed out that the composition of the Sochi mascots (Leopard, Polar Bear and Bunny) is almost identical to the trinity of Olympic Games mascots (Coyote, Bear and Hare). The graphic design of the Polar Bear in general, and especially the muzzle and large round head, is more typical of brown bears than of white bears, which have an elongated head. Also noted is the close resemblance to plagiarism between the Polar Bear and the mascot of the Moscow summer bear cub Misha, which is also pointed out by the creator of the latter’s image, Viktor Chizhikov.

The World Wildlife Fund in Russia proposed to the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee to edit the drawing with the Leopard, citing the fact that the color of the fur of the depicted animal is more similar not to a leopard, but to a snow leopard, which has never lived in the Caucasus.

Olympic torch relay

The Sochi 2014 Olympic torch relay is the longest and largest in the history of the Winter Olympic Games. It started on October 7, 2013 and will end on the opening day of the Olympics on February 7, 2014.

The route of the Olympic flame through the regions of Russia was presented by the Sochi 2014 organizing committee exactly a year before the start of the relay. Over the course of 123 days, the torch of the Games in the hands of athletes will travel more than 65 thousand kilometers in cars, trains, planes, as well as on Russian troikas and reindeer sleds in front of 130 million residents of 2,900 settlements in Russia, and will visit the capitals of all 83 constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

The design of the torches was developed by the creative team of the Center for Industrial Design and Innovation “AstraRossa Design” under the leadership of Vladimir Pirozhkov and Andrey Vodyanik. 207 million rubles from the Russian budget were spent on the purchase of 15,000 torches.

The entire course of the relay was accompanied by incidents. In the first 24 hours alone, the fire, despite the designers’ assurances that “the torch will not go out either under water or in space,” went out four times. The whole world saw footage of the first fading, when the extinguished torch was set on fire by an FSO officer with an ordinary lighter.

The torch continued to go out throughout the relay. And then it started to explode. So, in Kostroma, a torch exploded in the hands of a 13-year-old girl. The victim received a shallow burn to her arm, but was able to run her leg of the relay.

And a few days later, Santa Claus almost burned to death in Vologda.

The Olympic flame was extinguished in the hands of high-ranking officials. Russian Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky also ran with the extinguished torch.

Then the torchbearers themselves began to burn. Thus, Pyotr Makarchuk, a famous Russian bobsledder, carried the flame of the Olympics in Abakan already at the final stage. During the relay the torch went out several times. And at the finish of the relay, the flame spread to the sleeve of the bobsledder’s jacket. The accompanying people extinguished the torchbearer.

The opening ceremony

The ceremony began at 20:14 Moscow time.

As part of the ceremony, a traditional parade of Olympic Games participants took place. 88 delegations took part in the parade. The Russian team came out last, completing the parade. The delegation was headed by standard bearer Alexander Zubkov.

Alexander Zubkov

Afterwards, the spectators at the stadium saw a theatrical performance that demonstrated the main milestones of Russian history - from Ancient Rus' and the times of Peter I to the Soviet Union.

The opening ceremony was attended by 1,200 dancers and 980 acrobats, as well as 200 aerialists.

As part of the official part of the ceremony, the head of the organizing committee of the Games, Dmitry Chernyshenko, the head of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The President of Russia declared the Olympic Games open.

Tennis player Maria Sharapova carried the Olympic flag into the stadium. After this, the torch was carried by several more eminent Russian athletes, and Irina Rodnina and Vladislav Tretyak lit the fire in the arena.

Maria Sharapova

Irina Rodnina and Vladislav Tretyak

The ceremony was also marked by a couple of incidents. So at the beginning of the performance one of the five Olympic rings did not open.

And the former President of Russia, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev fell asleep right in the middle of the ceremony.

Sleeping Dmitry Medvedev at the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Sochi

Closing ceremony

Closing ceremony XXII Winter The Olympic Games began on February 23 at 20:14 Moscow time at the Fisht stadium and lasted for 2.5 hours. The main theme of the show was Russian culture through the eyes of a European. The ceremony was staged by Italian theater director Daniele Finzi Pasca.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the main heroine of the opening of the Games, the girl Lyuba, appeared before the audience, who this time was joined by two friends - Valya and Yura, named after cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova and Yuri Gagarin. First, the children sailed in a boat across the sea, in which 700 people in sparkling costumes danced. The dancers in the stadium formed different figures - the yin-yang sign, infinity, starfish. In the end, four groups of dancers stood in the four Olympic rings, and the fifth group huddled in a circle, representing the ring that did not open at the opening on February 7.

After the first part of the performance, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, were introduced to the stadium. To the left of Putin this time sat two-time Olympic champion in bobsleigh, Russian Alexander Zubkov, who was the standard bearer at the opening of the Olympics.

The Russian flag was carried to the Fisht by the Sochi Olympic champions from the Russian team, including Viktor An, Ekaterina Bobrova, Alexey Volkov, Tatyana Volosozhar, Vladimir Grigoriev, Elena Ilinykh, Yulia Lipnitskaya, Dmitry Malyshko, Evgeni Plushenko, Adelina Sotnikova, Alexander Tretyakov, Vic Wilde, Evgeny Ustyugov, Anton Shipulin and others. The anthem was performed by a children's choir conducted by Valery Gergiev and accompanied by an orchestra conducted by Yuri Bashmet. After the official part, the drummer ensemble of the Moscow Military School performed, and then the parade of athletes began. This time, first 88 flag bearers entered the stadium at once, and then all the teams rose from three sides.

After the parade, the last awards ceremony for the 2014 Olympics took place. First, Norwegian skiers Marit Bjorgen, Teresa Johaug and Kristin Steira received their awards, taking the first three places in the 30 km race. Then the winners of the men's 50 km mass start - Alexander Legkov, Maxim Vylegzhanin and Ilya Chernousov - stood on the podium.

After the awarding of the Olympians, the performance continued, in which Russian culture was told through painting, music, ballet, literature and circus art. Part of the ceremony was dedicated to the transfer of the Olympic flag to the capital of the future Winter Games - the Korean city of Pyeongchang. After the presentation of the 2018 Olympics, the president of the Sochi 2014 organizing committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko, took the stage. He thanked everyone who participated in the preparation of the Olympics and announced that Russia “kept what it promised.” In turn, the head of the IOC, Thomas Bach, addressed those present in Russian, saying: “Goodbye, Sochi!” After this, Bach declared the Olympic Games in Sochi closed. Three Olympic mascots appeared on the stage - Bear, Bunny and Leopard - and three main characters. Reminiscent of , a fragment of Alexandra Pakhmutova’s music “Goodbye, Moscow” was played at the stadium, after which Mishka blew out olympic flame.

From 7 to 23 February 2014 took place in Sochi XXII Olympic winter Games (hereinafter referred to as the Winter Games), at which Russia took first place in the medal standings.

The Winter Games were held on the territory of our country for the first time. According to the forecasts of the Russian Ministry of Sports, they were supposed to be the largest in terms of the number of participants and the number of awards. So, took part in the Games about 6 thousand people(participants and officials), of which 3 thousand athletes from more than 90 countries of the world, among whom the 98 sets of medals. For comparison: at the XXI Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, 86 sets of medals were awarded. It was assumed that the number of spectators who will attend the Games will be more than 1 million people, and the television audience that is expected to watch them will be about 3 billion people.

It is curious that the only Olympic Games currently held in Russia summer games(Moscow, 1980) were also XXII.

The Olympic Games are the largest international sports competition. They are carried out once every four years under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee (hereinafter referred to as the IOC). The organization, events and activities of the Olympic movement and the conditions for holding the Games are regulated by the Olympic Charter. The first Olympic Winter Games took place in 1925 in Chamonix, France. From 1924 to 1992, the Winter Games were held in the same years as the Summer Games (they were canceled in 1940 and 1944 due to World War II). The next Winter Games took place in 1994, that is, two years later, rather than four, due to the decision to make a two-year interval between the Summer and Winter Games.

According to the IOC classification, there is seven winter olympic sports(according to the number of International sports federations which are members of the Association of International Winter Sports Federations):

• Biathlon – International Union biathlon (IBU);
• Bobsleigh – International Federation of Bobsleigh and Toboggan (FIBT);
• Curling – World Curling Federation (WCF);
• Ice Hockey – International Ice Hockey Federation (IIXF);
• Luge (Luge) – International Luge Federation (FIL);
• Speed ​​skating – International Skating Union (ISU);
• Skiing – International Federation skiing(FIS).

In addition, speed skating, skiing and bobsleigh are divided into disciplines. In Russia, classification taking into account these subspecies is more common, so it stands out 15 Olympic sports:

1. Biathlon– a winter Olympic sport that combines cross-country skiing with small-caliber rifle shooting. IN Olympic program included since 1960.

2. Bobsleigh– downhill along a special ice track in the form of a chute on a sled (bob). It has been part of the Olympic program since the very first Winter Games - since 1924.

3. Skeleton– downhill racing on a double-sleigh with a weighted frame along a bobsleigh track. Became Olympic form sports in 2002.

4. Curling– team sport game on an ice platform. During the competition, participants of two teams alternately launch special heavy granite projectiles (“stones”) across the ice towards a special field marked on the ice. Athletes try to get their stone to stop in a certain place or to knock opponents' stones out of the scoring zone. Curling officially became an Olympic sport in 1998, although demonstration competitions were already held at the 1924 Games.

5. Ice hockey– a sports game during which players of two teams (on skates), guiding the puck with their sticks, try to throw it into the opponent’s goal without letting it into their own goal. Into the Winter Games program men's hockey has been included from the very beginning - since 1924, and the first ice hockey tournament as part of the Games took place at the 1920 Summer Olympics. Women's ice hockey was only included in the Winter Games program in 1998.

6. Luge– downhill racing on single and double sleighs along a bobsleigh track. This sport was included in the program of the Winter Games in 1964.

7. Figure skating– a speed skating sport that involves athletes moving on ice on skates, changing the direction of gliding and performing additional elements (rotation, jumps, combinations of steps, lifts, etc.) to music. Figure skating is one of the very first winter disciplines: competitions in figure skating were held at the Summer Olympics in 1908 and 1920.

8. Speed ​​skating- another type of speed skating. Men have competed in it at the Winter Games since 1924, and women since 1960.

9. Short track– a type of speed skating: skating along a short track. Included in the Olympic Games program in 1992.

10. Alpine skiing– a discipline of skiing, which involves descending from the mountains on special skis. Officially, this sport has been included in the Olympic program since 1936.

11. Ski racing– ski racing over a certain distance on a specially prepared track. Men competed in this sport at the first Games in 1924, and for women it has been included in the Olympic program since 1952.

12. Ski jumping– a discipline that consists of ski jumping from specially equipped springboards. Included in the Olympic program since 1924. Women will compete in this sport for the first time at the Olympic Games in Sochi.

13. Nordic combined, which is also called the "Nordic combination", combines two disciplines: ski jumping and cross-country skiing. Individual biathlon has been part of the Winter Games program since 1924, and in 1988 it was added team competition in this discipline.

14. Snowboard- the youngest of ski types a sport that involves descending from snow-covered mountain slopes on a special apparatus. First entered the Olympic program in 1998.

15. Freestyle- another type of skiing. Included in the Winter Games program since 1992.

In the course of preparation for the next Games, the issue of including new types of competitions in the Olympic program may be brought up for consideration by the IOC Executive Committee. So, at the Olympics in Sochi will be presented for the first time:

• ski jumping (women);
• team competitions in figure skating;
• luge relay;
• freestyle halfpipe (men and women);
• mixed relay in biathlon;
• freestyle slopestyle (men and women);
• slopestyle in snowboarding (men and women);
• parallel slalom (men and women).

Paralympic Winter Games

From 7 to 16 March 2014 Sochi will also host XI Paralympic Winter Games. Just like the Olympic Winter Games, they will be held on Russian territory for the first time. It is expected that they will take part more than 1.4 thousand people(participants and officials), including 700 Paralympic athletes from more than 40 countries, among whom the 72 sets of medals.

The first Paralympic Winter Games were held in 1976 in Örnsköldsvik (Sweden). Since 1992, the Paralympic Winter Games have been held in the same cities as the Olympic Winter Games. The organization responsible for the development of the Paralympic movement in the world is the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

Refers to Paralympic five sports:

1. Biathlon. Visually impaired and hearing impaired athletes, as well as athletes with amputations and musculoskeletal disorders, can take part in it, but athletes with the same category of disability compete among themselves.

Biathlon was included in the Paralympic program in 1994.

2. Alpine skiing. Men and women take part in the competition different types disabilities: spinal injury, cerebral palsy, amputation, blindness or partial loss of vision. However, the competition is between athletes with the same disability category in order to ensure equal conditions for all athletes.

First disciplines skiing were included in the program of the very first Paralympic Games in 1976.

3. Ski racing. As in competitions alpine skiing, cross-country skiing involves athletes with different types of disabilities, but the competition is between athletes of the same disability category. In relay races, teams are made up of three athletes with different types of disabilities.

This sport has also been included in the Paralympic program since 1976.

4. Wheelchair curling. It is played by two teams, whose goal is to hit a stone thrown across the ice as close as possible to the center of the drawn target. Team compositions can be mixed, that is, they can consist of both men and women.

Curling has been part of the official Paralympic Games program since 2006. This year our country will be represented in this sport for the first time.

5. Ice sledge hockey. The game consists of a confrontation between two teams, which, passing the puck with their sticks, try to throw it into the opponent’s goal as many times as possible, without letting it into their own goal. Athletes with functional impairments participate in it. lower limbs, the degree of which does not allow skating while standing. During the game, athletes move while sitting on a sled and use two sticks, serrated at one end and curved at the other. Using metal teeth, players push off the ice and use the curved end to hit the puck.

This sport was officially included in the Paralympic Games program in 1994. The Russian Paralympic sledge hockey team will take part in this sport for the first time at the upcoming Games in Sochi.

Besides sports

The Olympic and Paralympic Games (hereinafter referred to as the Games) remain in the memory for a long time not only because of the spectacular ceremonies and exciting competitions, but also because of the unique artifacts and memorabilia that are in particular demand among collectors and fans of the Olympic movement. Among the artifacts of the XXII Olympic Winter Games and the XI Paralympic Winter Games, in addition to mascots with the symbols of the Games in Sochi, it is worth highlighting philatelic products and numismatics.

Thus, for the 2014 Games in Sochi, four postage blocks, 45 postage stamps of different subjects, maximum cards and postcards, as well as sets of all issued postage stamps in artistic covers, were issued. Subjects for postal products were: winter views sports, Olympic sports facilities, as well as species of the Krasnodar region.

The Sochi 2014 coin program runs from 2011 to 2014 and provides for the release of coins (commemorative and investment) from both precious and non-ferrous metals. It should be noted that for the first time a commemorative banknote (with a face value of 100 rubles) was issued for the Games in Sochi.

Do you know that:

• the Winter Olympics have never been held in the Southern Hemisphere;
• artificial snow was first used at the XIII Winter Olympic Games in 1980 in Lake Placid (USA);
• the first Games to take place outside North America and Europe, became the XI Winter Olympic Games - they were held in Sapporo (Japan) in 1972;
• the only time in the history of the Games had to be postponed: in 1976 they were supposed to take place in Denver (USA), but due to financial problems of the organizers they were moved to Innsbruck (Austria). By the way, it was there that the official mascot of the Winter Games was first presented - it was a snowman named Tyrolin;
• the Great Britain team that won the World Hockey Championship at the 1936 Winter Olympics was composed almost entirely of Canadians;
• At the 2002 XIX Olympic Games in Salt Lake City (USA), a unique event occurred in figure skating: the Canadian couple Sale/Peletier received gold medals not by the decision of the judges, but as a result of public pressure. As a result, both the Russian couple Berezhnaya/Sikharulidze, who took first place, and the Canadians were awarded gold medals;
• Russian figure skater Alexei Yagudin, Olympic champion in 2002, is also a four-time world champion and three-time European champion, but has never won the Russian championship;
• The Sochi 2014 Olympic torch relay will be the longest and longest in the history of the Games. From October 7, 2013 (Moscow) to February 7, 2014 (Sochi), the Olympic flame will travel more than 65 thousand km, visiting more than 2,900 settlements in all 83 regions of the country. The total number of torchbearers is about 14 thousand people;
• manufactured for the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi record number awards - 1300 medals. Their production took about 3 kg of pure gold, 2 tons of silver and 700 kg of bronze.

Russia, Sochi

Olympics in Sochi 2014: opening of the Olympics, areas of holding, Olympic Games 2014, anthem and symbols, dates of the Sochi 2014 Olympics.

• Last minute tours to Krasnodar region

Previous photo Next photo

On February 7, 2014, the XXII Winter Olympic Games opened in Sochi. This is the second Olympics for Russia; the first, the 1980 Olympics, is remembered even by those who were just children when it was held in Moscow. But that was summer, and this is winter - everything is completely different, and again the country was worried, as the first time. The fact that Sochi, the resort city and “summer capital” of Russia, was chosen as the venue for the winter sports competition was initially confusing. However, it immediately became clear that this was just another challenge, an additional reason for pride: Sochi became the first city with a subtropical climate to host the Winter Olympic Games.

Sochi's bid to host the 2014 Games was declared the winner at the 119th session of the International Olympic Committee on July 4, 2007. According to tradition, at the closing ceremony of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, the Olympic flag was ceremoniously handed over to the mayor of Sochi, Anatoly Pakhomov, after which the Russian flag flew over the stadium and spectators in the stands and at the TV screens witnessed the presentation of Sochi as the host of the next Winter Olympics. The performance included model Natalya Vodianova, prima ballerina Ulyana Lopatkina, figure skaters Tatyana Navka and Roman Kostomarov, opera singer Maria Guleghina, and the Mariinsky Theater Symphony Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev. At the end of the performance, a huge logo of the Sochi Olympics appeared in the stadium.

The 2014 Games were held at two venues. The Krasnaya Polyana ski resort, 39 km from the city, received sports open air: bobsleigh, ski race, downhill, etc. Among other Olympic facilities, the Rzhanaya Polyana luge and bobsleigh track, the Rosa Khutor ski complex (its first stage was opened at the end of 2010) and the mountain Olympic village appeared here.

And in Sochi itself they built a grandiose Olympic Park for holding competitions in figure skating, hockey, speed skating, curling - in general, those sports that require indoor facilities.

The Olympic Park in Sochi included the following facilities:

• Large Ice Arena - hockey, 12,000 spectators,
• Small Ice Arena - hockey, 7000 spectators,
• Skating center - skating, 8000 spectators,
• Ice Sports Palace - figure skating, short track, 12,000 spectators,
• Curling arena - curling, 3000 spectators,
• Olympic Stadium, 40,000 spectators,
• Main Olympic Village.

The Organizing Committee of the Sochi Olympics presented the emblem of the Games on December 1, 2009, and on February 26, 2011, the results of the popular vote were summed up and three mascots for the upcoming Olympics were selected - a polar bear, a leopard and a hare. The anthem of the games was a song recorded for Sochi’s application to the IOC by Russian pop stars.

The Olympic Games in Sochi lasted 17 days, 92 sets of medals were competed in 15 sports. The right to host the Olympics in itself means recognition of Russia as a strong player in the international arena. And such a major sporting event always contributes to the development of the infrastructure of the region in which it is held, increasing the level of attractiveness of the region for tourists and the international prestige of the host country.

Sochi became the first city with a subtropical climate to host the Winter Olympic Games.

In order to be involved in the most important sporting event in the life of the country, it was not at all necessary to be a member of the organizing committee of the Games. The Olympic and Paralympic Games could not be organized and held without the participation of enthusiastic volunteers. 25 thousand volunteers were involved in the Sochi Olympics.

Historical trailer from the opening of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi

The most important sporting events in the world

All articles about event tours on Subtleties

Several indeed interesting facts about the upcoming Olympics. How much money has been spent, which countries will participate for the first time, and what role does the Chelyabinsk meteorite play in the Olympics!

The 2014 Winter Olympics begin on Friday 7 February in Sochi and end on 23 February.
The Winter Olympics are not as big as summer olympiad. The Winter Olympics include only 15 sports, while the Summer Olympics include 41 sports.

Here are some interesting facts about the upcoming Olympics.

This is the most expensive Olympics in history. Its costs exceeded $50 billion, exceeding the original budget of $12 billion. By comparison, the last Winter Olympics in Vancouver cost $8 billion.

Never before have so many countries participated in the Winter Olympics. A total of 88 countries will be represented. For the first time, Paraguay and Zimbabwe will participate.

The largest countries are sending the most athletes this year. 225 athletes will compete from Russia, 230 from the USA and 220 from Canada.

Three mascots were chosen for the Winter Olympics in Sochi: the Polar Bear, the Bunny and the Snow Leopard. They were chosen by the audience during a vote during the All-Russian competition for game mascots.

Athletes who win gold on February 15 will be awarded special gold medals with pieces of a meteorite that fell in Chelyabinsk on February 15, 2013.

Each medal weighs between 460 and 531 grams and each took approximately 18 hours to produce. These will be the largest medals, the diameter of which reaches 10 cm. In total, 98 sets of awards will be played and 1,300 medals will be awarded.

Gold medals will be made of silver, but they will be plated with gold. Its cost is estimated at $6,000. The last time, by the way, medals made of pure gold were awarded at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm.

The Olympic flame covered a record distance on its way to Sochi – 65,000 km. Among the modes of transport in which the Olympic flame made its way were: car, plane, train and even a reindeer team. The torch passed through more than 2,900 settlements, and 14,000 people served as torchbearers.

Sochi will become one of the warmest cities hosting Winter Olympics. The city is known for its subtropical climate and in winter it is quite warm and the temperature rarely drops below 12 degrees Celsius.

Incredible facts

The 2014 Winter Olympics start on Friday February 7 in Sochi and ends on February 23.

The Winter Olympics are not as big as the Summer Olympics. The Winter Olympic Games include only 15 sports, while in summer - 41 sports.

Here are some interesting facts about the upcoming Olympics.

Cost of the Olympics in Sochi

1. This most expensive Olympics throughout history. Its costs exceeded $50 billion, exceeding the original budget of $12 billion. By comparison, the last Winter Olympics in Vancouver cost $8 billion.

Participants of the Olympics in Sochi

2. Never before have so many countries participated in the Winter Olympics. Total will be presented 88 countries. For the first time, Paraguay and Zimbabwe will participate.

3. The largest countries are sending the most athletes this year. Russia will represent 225 athletes, from the USA - 230 and from Canada - 220.

Mascots of the Sochi 2014 Olympics

4. Selected for the Winter Olympics in Sochi three mascots: Polar Bear, Bunny and Snow Leopard. They were chosen by the audience during a vote during the All-Russian competition for game mascots.

New Olympic competitions

5. Expected 12 new competitions, which will make their debut at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, including mixed team competitions in figure skating and women's ski jumping.

Medals of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi 2014

6. Athletes who win gold on February 15 will receive special gold medals with meteorite pieces, fell in Chelyabinsk on February 15, 2013.

7. Each medal weighs between 460 and 531 grams and each took approximately 18 hours to produce. These will be the largest medals, the diameter of which reaches 10 cm. A total of 98 sets of awards will be drawn and awarded 1300 medals.

Olympic gold medal

8. Gold medals will be made of silver, but they will be gold-plated. Its cost is estimated at $6,000. The last time, by the way, medals made of pure gold were awarded at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm.

Olympic Torch Relay 2014

9. The Olympic flame passed record distance on the way to Sochi – 65,000 km. Among the modes of transport in which the Olympic flame made its way were: car, plane, train and even a reindeer team. The torch passed through more than 2900 settlements, and 14,000 people served as torchbearers.

Winter Olympic Games in Sochi 2014

10. Sochi will become one of warmest cities hosting the Winter Olympics. The city is known for its subtropical climate and in winter it is quite warm and the temperature rarely drops below 12 degrees Celsius.