SOCHI BRIEFS
AthletesAbout 6,000 people, including officials and athletes from 88 countries, will participate - including 71 athletes and 49 officials from Korea. Ninety-eight gold medals are at stake in 15 winter sport disciplines such as biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey, luge, skating and skiing.
Budget
The Sochi Games are expected to be the most expensive Olympics yet. The Russian government has invested $52 billion, up 20 percent from the previous record set in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Fisht Olympic Stadium
The opening and closing ceremonies will take place at Fisht Olympic Stadium. The design of the stadium was inspired by jewel-encrusted Faberge eggs. The stadium, which can hold up to 40,000 people, will also host the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Hot. Cool. Yours.
The slogan for the Sochi Games is “Hot. Cool. Yours.” It gives a universal message of encouragement to the athletes and spectators.
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin, de facto leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953, often spent leisure time at Sochi, at his private country house, or dacha. The dacha, which was built in 1937, still remains.
Krasnaya Polyana
Meaning “red glade,” in Russian, Krasnaya Polyana is a ski resort where some Olympic events will take place. The resort is 600 meters (1,969 feet) above sea level. In case of no snowfall, about 450,000 cubic meters (15.9 million cubic feet) of snow is stored at a warehouse nearby.
Security
With Islamic militants threatening to derail the Olympics, the Russian government has strengthened security. It has mobilized 60,000 security agents to protect the athletes, meaning there will be at least 20 agents for each athlete.
Torch
The longest torch relay in Olympic history, in which 14,000 torchbearers traveled through 83 cities along a 65,000-kilometer (40,400-mile) route, will end at the opening ceremony.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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