To avoid the problems encountered during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, The Associated Press reports Russia will use cloud-seeding techniques to prevent rain and ensure ideal snow conditions during the Sochi 2014 Games.
Sochi 2014 President and CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko said organizers are developing several contingency plans, including stockpiling snow and dispersing clouds. He told The Associated Press, “with all these positive techniques we will guarantee the perfect snow conditions regardless of the weather. We learned all the challenges that Vancouver faced and now we’re in the process of creating a special program to mitigate any abnormal weather conditions.
“We will have all available techniques like stockpiling snow, protection of existing snow, even from the previous season, cloud dissolution, and technology to prepare the snow”.
Moscow authorities reportedly seeded the clouds ahead of this year’s celebrations of the 65th anniversary of Victory Day.
Chernyshenko added, “….we will invite specialists from Moscow. We already came to an agreement with Moscow authorities for that”.
Chernyshenko said organizers will advance venue construction “as much forward as possible” to build in enough reserve time and be fully prepared for test events ahead of the Olympics. Virtually all Olympic venues are being built from scratch with facilities set to be completed by the end of 2012, but Chernyshenko said, “we are looking to make it even earlier. We need to own the venues. We need to spend more time to train the personnel”.
Meanwhile, Chernyshenko said to build interest in the 2014 Games, Sochi will launch its Olympic mascot program next February, three years ahead of the Games and earlier than any other organizing committee.
He said, “we recognize the importance of the engagement of the entire nation behind the Games. We want to reach the peak atmosphere during the Games”.
