Gala reception at UNESCO Headquarters to celebrate the XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi

 Address by Eleonora Mitrofanova

 Address by Getachew Engida

 Foto album

 RIA-Novosti: Gala reception at UNESCO (Sochi-2014)

 Media "Olympic corners" at HQ of UNESCO

 UNESCO takes part in Sochi-2014 Olympic Torche Relay

The Permanent Delegation of Russia to UNESCO organized a gala reception to celebrate the opening of the XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi on February 6 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

Ms Eleonora Mitrofanova, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Russian Federation to UNESCO in her welcoming speech congratulated the guests  from member-states of the Organization on the occasion of the beginning of a unique global festival of sport and friendship. She also informed about th partucularity and remarkable statistis of the Games and their preparatory period and expressed confidence in the success of the 2014 Olympics.

The Russian Ambassador launched the media "Olympic corners" which were installed at UNESCO HQ on the initiative of Russian diplomatic mission to UNESCO. Everyone can follow live main official and sporting events of the Sochi Games.

In his turn, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO Mr Getachew Engida congratulated on behalf of Director-General Ms Irina Bokova  those present on the significant international sporting event in Russia and stressed the humanitarian mission of sport, its important place in the programme activities of the Organization in the field of social sciences. Mr G.Engida wished Russia successful launch of the Games, which will undoubtedly be accompanied by respect for human values and will carry the ideals of peace and dialogue. He wished good luck to all teams participating in the Sochi festival of sport. Mr G.Engida concluded his speech with the famous Olympic motto: "May the best man win!" pronounced in Russian.

One of the distinctive features of the event at UNESCO HQ was a symbolic Olympic Sochi Torch Relay by young athlete Vadim Velikanov that received a warm welcome to prolonged applause of the international audience.

The event has attracted a considerable interest of the corps diplomatique, that was represented by more than 30 diplomatic missions to UNESCO, executive officers and employees of the Secretariat, as well as compatriotes and the members of the Russian diplomatic missions in France.

Permanent Delegation of the Russian Federation to UNESCO