Important information for visitors of the Olympic Games in Sochi
Useful information for visitors of the Olympics - FIS
The organizers of the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi 2014 published a digital spectator guide providing useful information for the visitors of the Olympics. This guide can be found on the official website of the Winter Games (http://www.sochi2014.com/games/spectator/), it will be updated regularly and it comprises six sections.
The Sochi 2014 Games
This section offers interesting facts about the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, in addition to a Schedule of all Olympic events and details on how to travel to the Games.
On the way to the Games
From December 1 2013, a simplified system for issuing visas to foreign tourists arriving for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi has been introduced. Visa requests will be accepted through the "Olympic windows" in Russian consular headquarters around the world. Visa applications will be reviewed as quickly as possible.
When applying for visas, foreign spectators should confirm that they plan on attending sporting events and/or the Games ceremonies. To do this, they must present a ticket for a sporting event or electronic confirmation (email) of a ticket purchase or a Spectator Pass. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that Russian consular offices will issue visas to tourists attending the Games without prior accommodation arrangements.
Foreign spectators who come to the Games for less than 7 days do not need to apply to the registration authorities (local migration legislation, detailed information is available at the Sochi 2014 web site in section for spectators). If the spectator is planning to stay for more than 7 days, registration at local migration authorities is necessary. For those staying at a hotel (B&B, cruise ship, resort, holiday home, hostel, etc.), there is no need to contact the Federal Migration Service authorities at all: all details relating to registration (taking into account migration) will be dealt with by staff at their accommodation.
Competition Tickets
Fans can buy tickets from Authorized Ticket Resellers or through the National Olympic Committee in their country. A full list of Authorized Ticket Resellers is available at tickets.sochi2014.com. To visit the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2014, all ticket holders must obtain a Spectator Pass from pass.sochi2014.com.
Transportation
During the Games, special transport for spectators will run between the sports venues and main districts of Sochi. Transport will be free for spectators who have a valid ticket for a competition on that day. The transport system will have nine transport hubs where you can transfer from one type of transport to another: Sochi, Matsesta, Khosta, Kudepsta (bus station) as well as Adler, the Airport, Olympic Park, Esto-Sadok, Krasnaya Polyana, and Rosa Khutor.
Venues
This section provides important tips for spectators going to the sports venues. It describes the security check procedure when entering the venues and the list of items that may not be brought into the venues. Here, you can also find detailed maps with the location of the Coastal and Mountain cluster Olympic venues, as well as a map of the Olympic Park.
Atmosphere
This is one of the most interesting sections. It describes where and how the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, medal, award and flower ceremonies will be held. In this section you can also learn about the activities of the Sochi 2014 Cultural Olympiad, and the Live Sites - unique places of celebration with huge screens and stages where thousands of people will be able to watch the Games together.
Around the Games
This final section contains brief information on Sochi 2014 Ambassadors, on the Olympic Torch Relay and Sochi 2014 volunteers. It also says where you can obtain official Sochi 2014 licensed merchandise.
