SOCHI, Russia – Sports – With exactly one year to go until the Olympic cauldron is lit once again, the Canadian Olympic Team (COT) is fully preparing to march into the Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremony with its sights set on contending for top spot in total medals.
Olympic Goals are set
Canadian athletes are continuing to prove themselves on the international stage, bridge-building meetings between Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and leadership from the Russian Federation are being held, while key logistical decisions are being actioned daily by the COC operations team. Everything is on track for a stellar performance at the XXII Olympiad, says Canadian Olympic Committee president Marcel Aubut.
“In our visits to date, we have been made to feel extraordinarily welcome and comfortable by the Organizing Committee,” said Aubut. “We are working diligently to ensure that from the moment our athletes, coaches and mission team hit the ground, their experience is as smooth, safe and as free from distraction as possible. Our objective is ambitious: to contend for the top spot in total medals!”
“At one year out, the athletes are already raring to go and the intensity is building every day as we can see from the massive Canadian presence in different test events, World Championship and World Cup circuits,” said 2014 Canadian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Steve Podborski. “Canadians thought they saw some amazing energy in Vancouver but I’m telling you that the best is yet to come!”
“I’m just ready to start,” said Alex Harvey, 2011 World Champion in Cross Country Team Sprint. “This next year I’m going to be counting down every day until Sochi. When we start training (for these Games) in May it’s going to start to feeling like the real deal.”
“This is another big milestone in our Olympic journey to Sochi,” said Kaillie Humphries, 2010 Olympic Champion and two-time World Champion in Bobsleigh. “I’m becoming more eager and it’s surreal to think we’re only a year away from the Opening Ceremony. The excitement is definitely noticeable among my teammates and I look forward to proudly representing Canada once again at a Winter Games.”
While Canadian athletes charge ahead with their preparations, crucial behind-the-scenes liaising is also well underway by the Canadian Olympic Committee. During his recent trip to the Russian Federation, COC President Marcel Aubut met with numerous high-ranking members of the Russian Government and Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee in order to ensure the best relations possible between Canada and its Russian hosts.
Key logistical action is fully on pace by the Operations team at the COC. The first shipment of Sochi cargo left the Ottawa-based AMJ Campbell Warehouse in early December, carrying equipment to help Canadian athletes stay fit and injury-free during World Cup test events.
Meanwhile, the first orders of team uniforms were submitted to official clothing supplier HBC last week, and orders are currently in for furniture and equipment to provide athletes with comfortable living spaces in the athletes’ village. Additionally, the COC has already secured an inventory of hotel rooms in Sochi to assist our sport partners, National Sport Federations and their guests with their accommodation needs during the Games.
