Download A Guide to the Sochi Games

A Guide to the
Sochi Games
Sochi, Russia
The 2014 Olympic Winter Games will be the first time
that the Russian Federation will have hosted the Winter
Games; the Soviet Union hosted the 1980 Summer
Games in Moscow. The host city Sochi has a population
of 400,000 people and is situated in Krasnodar, which is
the third largest region in Russia.
48 km (30 miles) of each other along a new high-speed
railway line. Travel time from the coastal cluster Olympic
Village to a competition venue will be no more than
five minutes, while all ice arenas will be within walking
distance of one another. The Mountain Cluster will
include biathlon and skiing complexes, a bobsled track, a
snowboard park and freestyle center. Travel time from the
Olympic Village to a competition venue in the mountain
cluster is less than 15 minutes.
Security
With the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, slated
for Feb. 7-23 and March 7-16, respectively, the Russian
government is under intense pressure to strengthen it’s
infrastructure and to ensure the safety of nearly 7,000
athletes, thousands of volunteers, members of the press,
and an estimated 120,000 visitors to the Black Sea resort
city. While such challenges are endemic to hosting such
a high-profile event, Sochi presents some unique issues,
given its status as the traditional summertime playground
for Russian elite, its relatively limited hospitality and sport
infrastructure and the fact that it is off the beaten path.
Little City, Big Stage
Greater Sochi (population 145,000) is located
approximately 1,000 miles (1,609 km) south of Moscow,
and stretches for 65 miles (105 km) between rugged
mountains and the Black Sea coastline. However, despite
this expansive territory, Sochi 2014 will be the most
compact in Olympic history; it will be possible to get
from one venue to any other in 30 minutes or less, and
all Olympic and Paralympic competitions will take place
in the same venues. Eleven athletic venues are being
prepared for the Sochi Games, which will be divided into
two clusters: Krasnaya Polyana (mountain cluster) and
Imeretinskaya Lowland (coastal cluster), located within
Authorities continue to implement heightened security
measures in and around Sochi in preparation for the
games. Associated restrictions will remain in effect
through at least March 21, five days after the end of the
Paralympic games. Expect the tightest security near the
two main athletic campuses: Krasnaya Polyana, known
as the “Mountain Cluster” and Imeretinskaya Lowland,
commonly referred to as the “Coastal Cluster”, which are
located within 48 km (30 miles) of each other.
Prohibited Items
Items banned by Russian law, including:
• weapons and ammunition, sharp objects, explosives,
drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as highly
flammable liquids and solids, gases and aerosols.
• Toxic, poisonous and corrosive substances.
• Liquids in larger amounts than 0.33l and any alcoholic
drinks. Glass containers and bottles.
• Medicines (more than 1 packet, more than 3 types or
more than 100ml).
• Large bags or suitcases.
• Flags and banners larger than 2x1m.
• Advertising materials of any kind, printed material with
religious, political or indecent content, or with content
which is incompatible with public order and/or morals,
including banners, posters, signs and similar.
• Any items which look like the aforementioned banned
items or are copies of banned items.
Exceptions
Items listed as “Exceptions” may be carried by certain
groups of people following certain procedures:
• Television equipment. Only accredited broadcasters
recorded as such may carry television equipment.
• Radio-electronic and high-frequency equipment. Only
with labels, and following the approved procedure. Only
equipment for general use, in accordance with the List
of Types of Radio Electronic Equipment, is allowed at
Olympic venues.
• Laser lighting equipment.
• Folding chairs or stools. Allowed for people
accompanying disabled visitors.
• Advertising materials of any kind, printed material.
Officials have divided the city’s metropolitan area into
two zones - either “controlled” or “forbidden.” Access to
the controlled zones requires event tickets and proper
identification, while forbidden zones - including parts
of Sochi National Park - would be accessible only to
those with special passes. All vehicles with registrations
originating outside of the Sochi security zone are banned
from entering from Jan. 7 through March 21.
Other key measures include:
• Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) will monitor all
telephony and data traffic, including landline, mobile and
satellite phones, emails, IMs, Skype, and social media.
It is unclear whether VPNs will be monitored; authorities
could simply block access.
• Approximately 40,000 military and law enforcement
officers will be deployed for the Games during peak
times. That figure also includes teams that will support
police in bomb disposal, building searches, logistics, and
venue security.
• Sochi authorities have installed 5,500 closed-circuit
cameras throughout the Olympic venues, and will deploy
a fleet of observation drones.
• The Ministry of Defense will deploy six Pantsir-S short
range air defense systems designed to intercept a
variety of targets flying at low level, including cruise
missiles and aircraft.
• The nuclear-powered heavy missile cruiser Petr Veliky
is likely to be anchored in the Mediterranean covering all
distant approaches to the Sochi area during the Games.
• Interpol, the international police organization, will
expedite intelligence data sharing between countries to
deter any potential threats.
• Hundreds of foreign intelligence, security, and law
enforcement officials will be in Sochi, some of them
embedded with their Russian counterparts, to share
critical intelligence and troubleshoot potential risks.
The International Olympic Committee President Thomas
Bach has expressed full confidence that Russian
authorities will deliver a “safe and secure” Olympics in
Sochi despite the two suicide bombings in Volograd in
southern Russia which is located about 650 kilometers
(400 miles) northeast of Sochi.
Rene Fasel,
president of the
international
ice hockey
federation and
head of the
umbrella group
of winter Olympic
sports bodies,
said security in
Sochi will be similar to Salt Lake City when it hosted the
2002 Winter Games just months after the Sept. 11, 2001,
terror attacks in the U.S.
Travel Documents
All travelers coming to Russia are required to have a
passport and a visa. Two options are available: a tourist or
business visa. Tourist visas allow stays in the territory of
the Russian Federation for up to 30 days (single or double
entry). A business visa can be granted for an unlimited
number of entries and issued for a period of up to 12
months.
If you lose your passport and/or visa, Assist America
will assist with the replacement of your essential travel
documents.
Transportation
The fastest way to get to Sochi is by plane. Sochi
has direct air connections with many cities in Russia,
such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Saratov, Yakutsk,
Ufa, Arkhangelsk, and Krasnodar. There are regular
international
flights to Sochi
from Istanbul,
Yerevan, and
Tashkent. During
the Games many
cities world wide
will introduce
direct flights to
Sochi.
Sochi International Airport (AER) is a major regional hub
that was completely renovated and upgraded in 2010 in
preparation for the games. If flights into AER are diverted
due to inclement weather, nearby airports include Anapa
(AAQ), Krasnodar (KRR), Novorossiysk (NOI), and
Gelendzhik (GDZ). While all of these airports are within
a four-to six-hour-drive of Sochi, it is not advisable to
attempt to drive southward to Sochi due to challenging
road conditions along the way; it is better to wait until
conditions allow the 45-minute flight to Sochi.
Direct international flights to Sochi originate in Vienna,
Istanbul, Tel-Aviv, and several neighboring countries
(Armenia, Moldova, Belarus, and Tajikistan). Most air
traffic at AER is domestic, and can be arranged from
numerous Russian cities through Aeroflot (SU), Avianova
(AO), Nordavia (5N), S7, Sky Express (XW), Transaero
(UN), UTair (UT), Vladivostok Avia (XF), and Yakutia
Airlines (R3).
On arrival to Sochi specially trained volunteers will be at
the airport, do not hesitate to ask them for questions.
To get from the airport to downtown Sochi or the Olympic
venues, you can take a taxi, a city shuttle bus or the Sochi
Aeroexpress (a journey from Sochi airport to Sochi’s main
train station (Sochi transport hub) on the Aeroexpress
takes around 45 minutes and costs 200 rubles).
For more detailed information about how to get to or from
the Sochi airport by public transportation or taxi, flights,
and flight schedules, please visit the official website of the
Sochi Airport.
You may also use the Spectator transport system (railroad
or bus).
Airline restricted items
The Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport
(Rosaviatsiya) imposed additional stringent restrictions
to carry-on items through March 21 in preparation of
the Winter Games. The new regulations ban all carryon liquids, including personal hygiene items, cosmetics,
medicines, sprays, and gels in any amount on all
domestic flights and all international flights originating in
Russia. The ban also covers packaged food and all baby
food items, including mother’s milk, and will remain in
effect through at least March 21, five days after the end of
the games in Sochi.
It is recommended that you pack all banned carry-on
items in your checked baggage. Before departing, obtain
an official statement from your physician if liquids or
medications are vital to your health and you must take
them with you on board for medicinal purposes. A certified
translation of such a statement might speed up airport
security procedures; Assist America can assist you with
this. Be patient and courteous with Russian officials.
Flights from Moscow to Sochi
There are more than 15 direct flights into Sochi every day
from the Moscow airports: Vnukovo, Domodedovo and
Sheremetyeovo.
In airports, please pay attention to information screens,
and announcements via loud speaker presented in
English and Russian.
“Aeroflot” airlines is the Official Airline of the Games
in Sochi with over 5 direct daily flights to Sochi. For
schedules and flight costs, please check the Aeroflot
website. The flight duration from Moscow to Sochi is 2
hours and 20 minutes.
If you lose your luggage during travel, Assist America
provides return of lost luggage assistance and can help
retreive your
belongings
and have them
sent to your
hotel or other
accommodation.
By Train
Sochi 2014
General Partner
Russian
Railways provides train services to Sochi. The average
journey time by train between Moscow and Sochi is 24
to 30 hours. For travel information, ticket prices and train
timetables, please check the Russian Railways website.
In order to avoid airport immigration queues it is
recommended to arrive early, 4-5 hours before departure.
To shorten the waiting time at the airport, you also can
use online
registration or
the self-check-in
machines at the
airport. If you are
traveling with
luggage, you can
wrap your bags
and get a name
tag at the airport.
The Russian rail system is one of the largest and most
complex in the world. Whilst traveling to Sochi from any
city in Russia you will experience incredible views and
sceneries. The trains in Russia are safe and comfortable
and while traveling may take a long time, the breathtaking
surroundings more than make up for the time spent.
We bring your attention to the fact that you will need to
go through a pre-flight security check. Please get familiar
with the rules of flight, luggage and carry-on luggage on
your airline’s website.
For information about ticket prices, schedules, and vessel
types, please visit the Sochi Commercial Seaport website,
or check directly at the counter at the Sochi Seaport.
For comfort and to save time, we recommend that
passengers transferring through Moscow book flights
with companies that fly into Moscow and on to Sochi from
the same airport (there are no direct transfers available
between Moscow’s different airports, so changing airports
will significantly increase your journey time). You can find
information about traveling between airports or getting
from the airports to downtown Moscow at the Aeroexpress
company website. The cost of an Aeroexpress trip from an
airport to downtown Moscow is (320 rubles) approximately
$9.58 USD.
By Sea
Sochi has direct sea connections with Novorossiysk and
the port of Trabzon, Turkey. Travel time from Novorossiysk
is 3 hours 30 minutes. From the port of Trabzon, travel
takes from 4.5 to 12 hours, depending on the type of boat
selected.
Airport Transfers and Ground Transportation
By rail:
A high-speed railway, the Aeroexpress, connects Sochi
with the Adler airport; for schedule and fares visit: www.
aeroexpress.ru/en/regions/sochi.html.
By bus (marshrutka):
51 - from the airport to Adler (central market)
105, 124 - from the airport to Sochi central railroad station
135 - from the airport to Krasnaya Polyana
By taxi:
Taxi service at the airport is chaotic and drivers rarely
speak English. Book a cab/ hotel transfer in advance.
The price varies greatly depending on the district
you are going to. A ride to Adler costs RUB 300-500
(approximately $9-15 USD); to Cental Sochi - RUB8001,000 (approximately $24-30 USD); to Krasnaya Polyana,
RUB 1,200-1,600 (approximately $36-48 USD). The most
remote parts of Greater Sochi, such as Lazarevskoe, will
cost up to RUB 4,000 (approximately $120 USD).
Europe Shuttle (+44 20 3318 1696; +34 91 125 1008)
Sky Express Taxi (airport transfers only) (+7 8622 358100)
Taxi Galant (airport transfers only) (+7 918 101 0342)
Rental cars are available at the airport from Hertz, Sixt,
ATON, and Rossa Rent, but the Olympics are compact
enough to make rental unnecessary and potentially
inconvenient, given limited parking.
Also, if an individual is interested in obtaining a car
service, LimoLink is a vetted car service provider (www.
limolink.com or 877-798-5466).
The seaport of Sochi will be closed during the Olympics,
as it operates from May to October, but authorities will
institute maritime patrols during the games as part of
perimeter security monitoring.
For more transportation information and maps, please
visit: http://www.sochi2014.com/en/spectators.
Health & Safety
• Cross roads carefully;
• Avoid walking on slippery surfaces (wet floors, ice);
• Do not cross the barriers, do not climb over or crawl
under them;
• Do not climb on structures – barriers, lamp posts,
equipment etc., do not stand on seats or benches;
• When in sports venues always try to remember where
the closest emergency exit is;
• Do not smoke except in designated areas;
• Do not light fires or use open flames;
• Do not block pathways, do not stand in the aisles or
block entrances or exits.
• Dress warmly and avoid exposure to the cold, remember
that the weather in the mountains can change very
quickly;
• Try to limit your contact with people with symptoms of a
cold (cough, running nose etc);
• If you need medical help while in a sports venue, go to
the medical station in person, telephone a doctor or ask
a member of Games staff or a police officer to call a
doctor over the radio.
In the event of a fire:
• Set off the fire alarm immediately (if there is one nearby);
• Inform people who are in danger;
• Inform any member of Games staff or a police officer;
• Leave the area through the nearest emergency exit and
exit the building.
Evacuation:
If evacuation is necessary you may be notified in the
following ways:
• The fire alarm;
• The venue’s information system (scoreboards, loud
speakers etc);
• Be informed in person by a member of Games staff;
• Be informed by the emergency services (the police, the
Ministry of Emergency Situations, or others).
Evacuation procedure:
• Do not panic, do not run, help other people to stay calm;
• Walk quickly to the nearest emergency exit;
• Do not use lifts or escalators;
• If possible, help others, especially people with
disabilities;
• Follow all instructions from the management, the
emergency services and staff helping with the
evacuation;
• Go to the designated assembly point.
In the event of a crush or panic:
• Choose the safest place, as far as possible from the
middle of the crowd, the stands, rubbish bins, boxes,
unattended bags, glass windows and barriers;
• Take off your tie, scarf and other items which could
cause strangulation;
• Let go of anything in your hands, bend your arms and
fasten all buttons on your clothes;
• Do not grab onto trees, columns or barriers, try to stay
on your feet;
• If you fall, roll into a ball on your side, keep you legs in
and try to get up in the direction the crowd is moving;
• Avoid people acting aggressively, do not get involved in
confrontations;
• Try to get out of the crowd.
If you discover any incident or situation which puts human
health or lives at risk:
• Immediately leave the danger zone;
• Inform any nearby member of Games staff or a police
officer and follow their instructions.
During the Games the safety of food products will be
taken very seriously. At the sports venues fresh and
natural food products, which have passed sanitation and
accreditation procedures, will be available.
Each sports venue will have a medical station, clearly
signposted. Medical stations help visitors to the Games
obtain medical help quickly and effectively.
Mobile first aid teams will also be working at the sports
venues. Special medical transport will be assigned to the
teams. If comprehensive medical services are required,
transport to a hospital can be arranged.
Foreign citizens visiting Russia must have medical
insurance. Before traveling to Russia you must ascertain
whether or not the conditions of your policy cover you in
Russia, if not you must obtain an appopriate policy.
3 hospitals in Sochi have been included into the
healthcare preparation program for Winter Olympics 2014.
The hospitals have been chosen based on their territories
and technical profiles:
State Clinical Hospital in Sochi
State Hospital in Sochi specializes in: cardio surgery,
vascular surgery, otolaryngology , ophthalmology, therapy,
neurology, traumatology. The main specialties of the
hospital are cardio surgery including vascular surgery
and neurosurgery. Cardiology department situated in a
new separate
building (built
according to the
Olympic program
and launched
in 2013). The
hospital has
approx. 700
beds. 12 of them
are ICU, 20
– therapy, 60 –
neurosurgery, 118 - cardiology.
Regional Clinical Hospital in Adler
Regional Clinical Hospital in Adler specializes in:
traumatology, pulmonology, rheumatology, surgery,
therapy, neurology, cardiology, cardio surgery. The main
specialties are: gynecology, infectious diseases. Medical
facility also has a children department in a separate newbuilt building. The hospital has approx. 305 beds, provides
medical services on 32 specialties including department of
infectious diseases both for adults and children.
State Clinical Hospital in Krasnaya Polyana
State Clinical Hospital in Krasnaya Polyana specializes in
traumatology, rheumatology, surgery, therapy, neurology,
cardiology, rehabilitation, urology, gastroenterology.
This hospital is similar in it’s capabilities to the Regional
Hospital in Adler, but here the main specialties are
traumatology (including osteosynthesis) and diagnostic
services. This is the first and only hospital where the
patients from Mountain Cluster will be taken.
If you become sick or injured while away from home,
Assist America can provide you with services such
as medical referrals to local physicians, assistance
with admission to qualified hospitals, monitoring your
treatment, interpretation and translation services and
evacuation/repatriation services. Call our 24 hour
Operations Center to arrange for services. Please visit our
website for more information: http://www.assistamerica.
com/For-Group-Benefits/Member-Services.aspx.
Communications
Calls within the country: +7 (Russia’s country code), then
the city code
International calls: “+” followed by the country code
Sochi’s city code: +7 (Russia’s country code) then 8622
(Sochi’s city code)
Moscow’s city codes are +7 (495) и +7 (499)
Police / Ambulance service: Call 112 (service is provided
in Russian and English)
Mobile communication service within the competitions
area is provided by MegaFon - the Sochi 2014 General
Partner. If your device has not automatically connected
to the MegaFon network, please select MegaFon in
your device settings and remain connected. You will be
charged according to your tariff plan.
You can purchase a mobile phone SIM card or sign up
for Mobile Internet service at the offices of the mobile
communications company Megafon, a Sochi 2014
General Partner, as well as at supermarkets and other
retail locations. A passport or other ID is required to obtain
services. You can add money to your telephone account
at any Megafon office, supermarket, or mobile phone
terminal.
Top 7 Tips for Spectators:
Please visit the official website, sochi2014.com, for the
most up-to-date information about the Games. Be aware
that event times are subject to change. You can check for
changes to the Games schedule here.
1. To enter Olympic Park, the competition venues and
the Ceremony
venues, you
must have a
valid ticket and
Spectator Pass.
You can apply
for a Spectator
Pass at pass.
sochi2014.com.
2. Check the
transportation routes and plan your route ahead of time.
3. If you are purchasing tickets for events which take
place at different venues in the Mountain and Coastal
Clusters on the same day, please make sure you allow
enough time between events in order to travel from one
venue to another.
4. Arrive early and be prepared to go through security
checks.
5. Please check which items are permitted or not
permitted to bring with you.
6. Please remember that only Visa cards and cash are
accepted as payment for all services at the Games.
7. Please make sure that you are dressed appropriately
to attend the events that you have tickets for during the
Sochi Games. The weather may change quickly and the
conditions vary greatly from those that you experienced
when leaving you accommodation, particularly in the
mountains, where you should make sure you have warm
water-resistant clothing to protect you from large amounts
of snow. You will be able to find the weather forecast
during the Games at the sochi2014.com website at venue
pages.
Please make sure to download the Assist
America App from the Apple App store or Google
Play before you travel!
SCAN HERE
Android
iPhone
Information on the games
New sports
Twelve new events are on the sports program in Sochi,
with women’s ski jumping perhaps the biggest attraction.
Female jumpers are making their debut after being
rejected for inclusion in Vancouver four years ago. In a
nod to the young X Games generation, the IOC has also
added ski halfpipe and ski and snowboard slopestyle
events. Snowboard star Shaun White, aka the Flying
Tomato, will unveil a new trick — a frontside double-cork
1440. It’s a variation of the Double McTwist 1260 he
nailed at the 2010 Vancouver Games.
Hockey fever
The NHL players are back. Hockey is the sport Russia
really cares about and the host nation will be out to make
amends after Vancouver performance. The Russians
failed to medal in hockey, knocked out in the quarterfinals
by Canada. It was symbolic of Russia’s worst overall
showing at a Winter Games, winning only 15 medals
and finishing 11th in the medal table. Sochi will offer a
chance of redemption for superstar Alex Ovechkin, who is
desperate
to lead Russia to its first Olympic title since a “Unified
Team” of former Soviet republics took gold in Albertville in
1992.
Ski stars
Alpine skiing features the anticipated return of American
star Bode Miller from knee injuries. High-profile medal
contenders include 18-year-old American Mikaela Shiffrin,
as well as Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway and Tina Maze
of Slovenia.
For more information on the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic
Games and scheduled events, visit (http://www.sochi2014.
com/en/) or download the Sochi 2014 Guide App to your
smart phone/mobile device: http://www.sochi2014.com/
en/mobile-applications.
This guide is intended for use by existing Assist America
members. Sources include, but are not limited to: iJET,
ABC News, http://www.sochi2014.com/en/