Sochi is turning to figure skating world champions Pang Qing and
Tong Jian of China for advice to boost the Russian city's chances
of winning the bid for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, CEO of Sochi 2014, met with Pang Qing and
Tong Jian on Monday to listen and learn from their needs and
expectations from Olympic winter venues and facilities.
"It was a great honor to meet two such world-class and gracious
Champions. Their insights and views have been extremely helpful in
the final preparations of our Games Plan," said Chernyshenko.
"This is in keeping with our vision to create brand new
facilities for the Games in Sochi customized to the needs of
athletes and all Olympic Family Members."
Pang and Tong, who finished fourth in Turin 2006 Pair Skating
and went on to win gold in the same event at the World
Championships in Calgary, Canada, in March 2006, were also invited
to visit Sochi, the renowned tourist resort near the Black Sea.
"I am very impressed with the Sochi 2014 Games Plan. It will be
a unique opportunity to compete at an Olympic Winter Games where
both the ice and alpine sports' venues are designed to maximize
athletes' comfort and help them reach their ultimate performance.
We look forward to visiting Sochi soon and experiencing this
exciting vision for ourselves," said Pang.
Chernyshenko is heading a Sochi 2014 delegation at the 5th World
Forum on Sport, Education and Culture in Beijing.
(Xinhua News Agency?October 24, 2006)