October 30, 2008 (Moscow, Russia) – Russia is on its way to becoming an international winter sports hub. “During my recent visits to Russia, I have become convinced of Russia being fully worth its success in winning the right to host the Olympic Winter Games 2014. There is no doubt that ski venues in Sochi will be at the highest level and the Russian attitude towards sports is unique,” commented FIS Chief Race Director for the men’s Alpine World Cup Günter Hujara at a Press Conference in Moscow last week covering this winter season’s schedule of competitions.

Russia will host a number of major events this winter. The first of these will be an unprecedented FIS Alpine World Cup promotional event in parallel slalom in Moscow, for which a unique and imposing site is being constructed. The facility will be 150 meters long, 36 meters wide and 60 meters high, and will allow more than 10,000 people to watch the action from a special viewing platform. Construction of the structure has already started in the Vorobievy mountains. Other events include a FIS Freestyle World Cup in aerials and the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup in big air, both in Moscow, as well as three Viessmann FIS Cross-Country World Cup competitions in Rybinsk.

Sochi 2014 is working closely with the FIS in readiness for its Alpine Skiing test event program, which begins in 2012. This will enable Russian athletes to prepare for the Games in the very venues in which they will be competing in 2014.