From Sochi To London

Big Ben- August 12, 2012

I made the trip to London for the second week of the Summer Games.  Sheremetyevo Airport was full of people leaving to watch or participate in the Olympic Games. 

Bosco Store- Sochi Airport 

Before I even left the airport in Sochi, I noted the signs in the airport greeting London at Bosco's store.

 

Heathrow Airport 

Immediately upon landing in Heathrow, I saw a large sign connecting the two cities, as well.

Sochi had a great presence in London.  Sochi.Park at Kensington Gardens in central London's Hyde Park.Sochi.Park had several zones including Visit Russia, promoting Russia;  Krasnodar Krai, which featured business and economic opportunity in the region that includes Sochi; a zone devoted to national and international Olympic partners, with a bobsled experience and finally a "4D" zone that showed how visitors will experience Sochi in 2014.

Women's Marathon- London August 5, 2012

Bus At Bosco Club- London

It seemed everywhere in London, there were Russian fans, Sochi volunteers and officials of Sochi 2014.Bosco Club was a venue sponsored by General Partner for Sochi 2014, Bosco.  The venue was situated adjacent to Green Park and just a short walk from Buckingham Palace.

The whole experience was impressive.  There were fans from scores of countries, with British fans, of course, the most prevalent.  The whole city was decked out and Union Jacks could be seen flying on virtually every street and from many buildings.  

Restaurant near New Bond Street- London, U.K.

Everyone was friendly, smiling and enjoying the experience.  The Olympic Park was very accessible in Stratford with an underground station just a short walk from the main entrance.  The Park was on a grand scale, but well-designed and the venues looked great, too.  The weather was spectacular and with the multi-national crowd carried a sense of excitement and anticipation.  

ArcelorMittal Orbit (Observation Tower) and Olympic Stadium- London

When I flew back to Sochi, we passed just to the left of the Olympic Park and I looked down at the Bolshoi Ice Palace, the Olympic Stadium and other buildings and venues at the Park.  I am sure that athletes, journalists and fans will be as impressed with the venues as they were in London.

Sochi Olympic Stadium- July 2014