Sochi 2014, Russia’s Bid to host the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, is in the final stages of preparing for the first-ever “Leisure Sport Fest”, set to take place on August
13th in Sochi.

A combination of “Sport in Russia” competitions and a city-fest celebrating Olympic spirit, the “Leisure Sport Fest” promises to bring 21 different sport activities to Sochi’s Square of Arts. The day-long event will call for the construction of 15 temporary venues to house events such as skateboarding, arm wrestling, checkers, table-tennis, climbing and hiking. Top performers at the festival will be awarded Sochi 2014 medals, diplomas, and t-shirts by the Bid Committee and the Federal Agency of Physical Culture and Sport. The “Leisure Sport Fest” will offer Sochi residents the unique opportunity to participate in sporting events set in the heart of their city while demonstrating their support for Sochi’s Bid.

Other festival highlights will include the participation of Torino 2006 Olympic Champions, Svetlana Zhurova and Alexey Voevoda, on hand as official hosts of the “Leisure Sport Fest”. Various celebrity athletes will also participate in shows for the audience and master classes organized by sport schools, clubs and federations. The festival will close with a concert and a spectacular fireworks show to mark the occasion.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, Bid CEO, commented on the planned festival: “I can’t wait to see all of the smiling faces and happy residents as we celebrate Sochi’s passion for sports. We
know that a large percent of the population is already behind our Bid. The Leisure Sport Fest will give the whole city an opportunity to feel that excitement and show just how much they want to host the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.”

The event comes at a time when the latest opinion polls show an increasing number of Russians (63% of the +143 million population) support Sochi’s bid to host the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. This is over a 10% increase from the last poll conducted in November of 2005.