An event devoted to the forthcoming XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi was held at the European Parliament on 2 December 2013. It was co-organised by the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the EU and by Mr. Slavi Binev, Member of the European Parliament from Bulgaria (“Europe of Freedom and Democracy” Group), European Taekwondo champion. MEPs, representatives of the diplomatic corps, civil society and sports organisations were among those present.
Prominent Russian athletes, Ms Galina Gorokhova, triple Olympic champion in fencing, and Ms Larissa Berkova, winner of the Gold medal of the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980 in handball were honourable guests of the ceremony.
Ambassador Vladimir Chizhov, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the European Union, addressed the participants.
A videopresentation of the forthcoming Olympic Games in Sochi followed the opening of the event.
Statement by Ambassador Vladimir Chizhov at the presentation
