The Public Council for the preparation of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games met on the last day of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Coordination Commission’s visit to Sochi and discussed a barrier-free environment for people living with a disability.
Members of the Public Council talked about implementing the federal government’s “plan of activities aimed at creating a barrier-free environment for the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games of 2014 in the city of Sochi” said a press release.
According to the plan there would be barrier-free access to the main transport and public facilities of Sochi, as well as the training of personnel and volunteers for the Paralympic Games.
The project now involves about 20 public organizations regionally and federally. By 2014 about 5,000 volunteers will be trained to work with the disabled when the Games begin.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, President of Sochi 2014 said, “the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi are a unique opportunity to integrate people living with a disability into the whole of Russian society. The concept devised by the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee for a barrier-free environment has been endorsed by leading associations for people living with a disability in Russia. Everything being constructed for the Games – transport, roads, sporting and public facilities – will be a model for a barrier-free environment throughout Russia”.
International Paralympic Committee (IPC) representative Miguel Sagarra said, “the organizing committee is making some excellent progress in a number of areas not only in terms of building infrastructure, but trying to change attitudes towards people with a disability. We will continue to monitor their progress closely and are keen that their plans to create a barrier-free environment for Sochi and Russia are integrated into their design plans for all venues that will be built between now and 2014”.
