Preparations for the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Games have “kick-started” intensive work to bring Russia’s national legislation into further alignment with international standards.
A Sochi 2014 press release says Deputies from Russia’s State Duma, together with representatives of leading public organizations, met to discuss Russia’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. Sochi 2014 Supervisory Board member, Paralympic Champion and General Secretary of the Russian Paralympic Committee Mikhail Terentiev, attended the meeting.
The press release says the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games will help accelerate cohesion, give access to winter sports and improve quality of life for the 11 million people in Russia living with disabilities. As well as all sports venues in Sochi being fully equipped for people with disabilities in keeping with International Paralympic Committee (IPC) requirements, the region’s transport vehicles, infrastructure and information provision will also be enhanced for the benefit of residents and visitors with disabilities.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sochi 2014 President and CEO said, “the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games has reinforced Russia’s commitment to social advancement. In preparation for the Games and Sochi’s continued development into a world class tourist destination, we will set new standards for urban planning and development to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Sochi and across the nation”.
The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games will also be discussed at the IPC’s Project Review visit taking place April 27-29.
