This will be the ultimate chance for fans to get their hands on tickets to their favorite events and being able to say that they were a part of history by attending Russia's first ever Olympic Winter Games.
Moreover, a special section of the ticketing website allowing fans to purchase tickets from other ticketholders - Fan2Fan - is now available. Fan2Fan is the only official online platform through which fans will be able to legally purchase tickets from other spectators and may help fans to find that special missing ticket to the Games that is no longer available in the main store. In recognition of Visa's longstanding support of the Olympic Games, only Visa cards are acceptedfor ticket purchases on the Fan2Fan page.
World class sport and so much more
Attending the Games in Sochi is the best way to witness the world's best winter athletes compete and to experience the unforgettable atmosphere of the Olympic Winter Games in Russia, with special cultural activities and concerts planned throughout the period of the Games in the Olympic Park and the city itself, in addition to Sochi's traditional tourist attractions. The Official Sochi 2014 Spectator Guide featuring all the information a spectator needs to plan their trip of a lifetime to the Games is available on the website or as a mobile application
A historical meeting point of cultures, the city of Sochi is today home to about 400,000 people, representing over 100 different cultures from across Russia. The city has its own unique climate, as it sits between the shore of the Black Sea and the foot of the Western Caucasus mountain region, making Sochi famous for its inimitable combination of Mediterranean and Alpine climates. This special blend means the mountain venues have already experienced heavy snow fall this year, while the city usually retains temperatures more reminiscent of the Nice at the same time of year.
Olympic Park
Throughout the Games at the Olympic Park, spectators will be able to see dancers and musicians, folk art groups and solo artists, circus and street theater performers, and, of course, experience the joy and emotion of seeing the world's best winter athletes receive their medals at the Medals' Plaza.
Concerts of musical groups from all over Russia, a children's corner, a photo exhibition and flash mobs are planned. Of course, the Games will be attended by the Olympic mascots: the Polar Bear, Hare, and Leopard, who will greet guests to the park and be available for pictures In addition, Ded Moroz, the symbol of the Russian winter, will be seen in the Park, attracting the attention of Russian and foreign guests to the Olympic Games.
The doors to the pavilions of the Winter Games Partners and hospitality houses of different countries will be open to the public. These include the Russian team spectators' house, the hospitality houses of Pyeongchang 2018 (Korea), Switzerland and Japan, an exhibition of the Russian regions, and the exhibition pavilions of the Sochi 2014 marketing partners: Coca Cola, Omega, P&G, Samsung, Megafon, Rosneft, Sberbank, VW Group Rus, Abrau Durso, Microsoft.
All of these activities, when combined with the different food and beverage options available in the Park will allow fans to enjoy a fun filled family day out and create memories that will last a lifetime.
A Russian cultural experience
The grand finale to the Sochi 2014 Cultural Olympiad will take place during the period of the Games and the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee has created an exceptional program for those visiting Sochi next February. Visitors and locals will have the opportunity to enjoy over 500 hours of performances from Russia's most well-known and notable music and dance groups, including Chukchi throat singing, fiery Dagestan lezginka, melodic Kuban Cossack tunes and virtuoso alto improvisations from world famous maestro Yuri Bashmet. In total, more than 5,000 artists from 70 regions of Russia will perform at numerous venues around Sochi.
How to get to Sochi and where to stay
Transport
The fastest way to get to Sochi is by plane. Sochi has direct air connections with many cities in Russia, such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Saratov, Yakutsk, Ufa, Arkhangelsk, and Krasnodar. There are also regular international flights to Sochi.
Sochi 2014 General Partner Russian Railways provides train services to Sochi. The average journey time by train between Moscow and Sochi is 24 to 30 hours. For travel information, ticket prices and train timetables, please check the Russian Railways website.
Sochi has direct sea connections with Novorossiysk and the port of Trabzon, Turkey. Travel time from Novorossiysk is 3 hours 30 minutes. From the port of Trabzon, travel takes from 4.5 to 12 hours, depending on the type of boat selected.
The city of Sochi is served by numerous Russian and international airlines and regular train connections, as well as by boat – more information is available at www.sochi2014.com or from your travel agent. During the Games, special spectator transport will circulate between the sports venues and the main areas of the city of Sochi, and is free-of-charge for fans with Olympic tickets on the day. The network includes rail and bus routes, as well as a cable car system.
Applying for a visa
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 "Olympic windows" in Russian consular headquarters around the world. A Russian visa may also be applied for without having to wait in the main line and without having to provide verification of hotel arrangements. 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 issued by the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee or an Authorized Ticket Reseller, or a Spectator Pass.
Accommodation
To choose the best location for your hotel and get the standard of accommodations you are accustomed to, make sure you plan your accommodation and book a hotel in advance.
Fans looking for accommodation during the Games should look no further than the "accommodation" section of the official Sochi 2014 website, which provides information and links about how to find out about comfortable and fairly priced international standard accommodation in Sochi. Hotel prices have been regulated by the Russian Government and guests can expect to pay prices that correspond to European standards. For example, the price of a standard room in a three-star hotel will be on average a little over 100 US dollars and the maximum price level will be set at 176 US dollars. Accommodation options are also available through major travel companies.
Meals
Sochi boasts a well-developed tourist infrastructure. Restaurants in Sochi demonstrate Russian hospitality and flavors. In many cafés vegetarian and faith-based diets are available. Information about the infrastructure in Sochi (food, entertainment, walking tours) is available at the hotel where you are staying in Sochi and from tour operators.
Generous, tasty and diverse dishes featuring worldwide cuisines will entice the Games' guests, as well as Russian traditional tea from a samovar together with blini (Russian pancakes), baranki (Russian bagels), pies and, of course, famous Caucasian shashlyk.
Spectator Pass
Once you have purchased your tickets, don't forget that all visitors will require a Spectator Pass to visit the Games in Sochi. One Pass will be valid for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Further information on the procedure to receive a Spectator Pass and the addresses of Spectator Pass Registration Centers is available on the website pass.sochi2014.com.
A Spectator Pass and a ticket are required to attend competitions, as well as to access the Olympic Park. The pass will undoubtedly also be a unique souvenir of the time spent at the Games in Sochi.
