Passing the baton from London to Sochi: A Celebration of Sport in Tashkent
Olympic Legacy event at the Museum of Olympic Glory in Tashkent.
Museum of Olympic Glory in Tashkent
On 5 August 2013 Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Mr George Edgar and the Russian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Mr Vladimir Tjurdenev marked the first anniversary of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and just under 200 days to go until the Sochi Winter Games 2014, in a celebration of sport at the Museum of Olympic Glory in Tashkent. A number of Uzbek athletes, including participants and winners from the London Games and the Kazan Universiade, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Culture and Sport, National Olympic Committee and Paralympic Association attended the presentation by the British and Russian Ambassadors celebrating the achievements of the London Games and looking ahead to the Sochi Games. After their speeches the two Ambassadors planted a laurel tree and placed a commemorative plaque outside the Museum of Olympic Glory, in a historic “passing of the baton” from London to Sochi. They also presented special gifts with symbols of both the Games to young Uzbek athletes, who spoke about their sporting plans and dreams.
This time last year the world was watching one of the greatest Olympics and Paralympics in living memory, a golden summer of sport. Around 14,700 athletes from 205 nations competed in the Games – including 63 Uzbek Olympic and Paralympic athletes – in front of an audience of 4 billion worldwide.
The President of the International Olympic Committee hailed the Games as a “blueprint” for the future. The London Olympics and Paralympics showcased UK expertise in stadium construction, project management and sustainable design, and, critically, were delivered on time and on budget. They created unprecedented economic benefits for the UK; approximately $15 billion since September 2012.
The London Games were the most accessible and inclusive games ever, breaking the record for the most Paralympics tickets ever sold and incorporating disability access into all aspects of planning. The phenomenal regeneration of the Olympic Park site marked the most sustainable, greenest Games in history. The UK is proud of the legacy the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics will deliver, creating lasting change in sport.
In 2014 Russia will be hosting the Winter Olympic (7-23 February) and Paralympic Games (7-16 March) in Sochi. It is expected that more than 6,000 athletes from around 85 countries will participate in the Sochi Games. For the first time in the history of the winter games the Olympic Park will be built in the seashore zone and will be able to accommodate about 75,000 visitors.
11 brand new world class sport facilities will be constructed for the Sochi Games meeting the highest environmental standards. For instance, the Fisht Olympic stadium, which has a height of 69 metres and will be able to accommodate up to 40,000 spectators, will be used both for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games.
At the Sochi Olympic Games athletes will be competing for 98 sets of medals in 7 sports. That is 12 sets more than at the Vancouver Games in 2010 and 14 more than in Turin in 2006. At the Sochi Paralympic athletes will be competing for 72 sets of medals in 5 sports.