Winter Games strengthens ties with 2014 Winter Olympics   29 Jun 2011

LAKE WANAKA, New Zealand (June 28, 2011) ¬ 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games is playing a supporting role to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics with two key officials from Sochi using the event to gain additional experience in their roles.

Aleksandra Savilov (Sochi snowboard and freeski venue manager) and Alexander Adamyants (Sochi sports manager ¬ snowboard) will shadow Winter Games NZ staff Jane Todd (WGNZ venue manager) and Mags Helles (WGNZ sports manager) for the duration of 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games. Their roles will see them join the Winter Games NZ staff in assistant roles and be involved in the day to day running of Winter Games throughout August.

³This is a hugely valuable exchange of knowledge for both sides,² said Ms Todd. ³They will get experience from us and take that knowledge back to Sochi and apply it to their test events next year and ultimately to the Winter Olympics in 2014. Plus we get a fascinating insight into how they run their events and how the preparation for Sochi is progressing.²

Ms Helles added, ³Having Aleksandra and Alexander helps develop the tie between New Zealand and the Russian Olympic Committee. Alexander was here at the last Winter Games and it¹s great he wants to return and bring a colleague. We also expect to see a strong Russian contingent of athletes at Winter Games.²

In addition to working on Winter Games NZ, the two Russian representatives will also present to a delegation of SPARC event managers who will attend 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games on the final weekend of the event.

The Sochi officials will provide the event managers with an update from Sochi and how preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics are progressing.

100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games takes place from 12- 28 August 2011 featuring 22 snow and ice sports over 38 events and involving 1,000 elite athletes from 50 nations. The 16-day long Games also include a full Downtown Sessions festival programme featuring films, live music and entertainment and rail jam extravaganzas in Queenstown, Lake Wanaka, Dunedin and Methven.

The on-snow competition will take place at Coronet Peak, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Snow Park NZ, Snow Farm and Mt Hutt with the ice sports taking place at Naseby and Dunedin.

(Winter Games NZ)

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