OREANDA-NEWS. September 21, 2011. A plenary session entitled "Major Sports Events as a Favourable Business Investment and Sustainable Development Stimulus: Maximizing Economic, Social and Environmental Legacy of the 2014 Sochi Games " has taken place in the framework of the X Investment Forum in Sochi. In the course of the event, representatives of federal, regional and city authorities as well as heads of the “Sochi 2014” partner companies discussed the Games’ legacy for Russia as well as viewed major sports events as a catalyst for developing the investment potential of the regions, and as a platform for their sustainable development.

The meeting was chaired by Dmitry Kozak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. Among the participants were Dmitry Chernyshenko, President of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, heads of Sochi 2014 partner companies – such as "Rostelecom", "Rosgosstrakh", "Microsoft Rus", Coca-Cola, "Panasonik Rus", Procter&Gamble.

Dmitry Kozak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, marked:

"The Sochi Games have already became a model for other major Russian infrastructural projects and a sample for applying some most advanced practices in various regions of our country. The Government's mission is to make such major events attractive for business and investors and to maximize their legacy impact not only on this or that particular city or region but on the country at large".

Dmitry Chernyshenko, President of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, presented a sustainable development program which will become the Sochi 2014 Games’ most important legacy; he also detailed its components. The Program is in fact a number of specific projects and initiatives directed at creating long-term positive change in social, environmental and economic spheres. At present the program comprises 229 projects for a sum of 16,2 bln. roubles (without regard for the projects and investments of the Krasnodar Region and SC “Olympstroy”). All the projects span six key areas: healthy lifestyle, harmony with nature, barrier-free environment, economic health, high-tech as well as culture and national values.

In the course of the plenary meeting the “Sochi 2014” Partners – Rostelekom (Alexander Provotorov), Ingosstrakh (Alexander Grigoriev) and Microsoft Rus. (Nikolay Pryashnikov) presented reports on the “Sochi 2014” project’s investment attractiveness, investing into the “Olympic” region and generating legacy for the region and the country at large.

During the Session worldwide IOC partners shared their experience of implementing such kind of programs including those carried out with their support during the previous Games. Thus, John Reid (The Coca-Cola Company) presented the global sustainable development strategy of a company working on Olympic projects. Shigeo Suzuki ("Panasonic Rus") also presented global sustainable development strategy as part of Panasonic’s corporate philosophy, exemplified by major sports events. Patricia Lopez Vasques de Perez Ayala (Procter&Gamble) presented a report on cooperating with the Olympic movement and implementing sustainable development programs at both global and local levels. Representatives of national partners also presented their plans for the successful implementation of such kind of projects.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, President of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, marked:

"Examples from around the world show that global sports events like the Olympic Games serve as a catalyst for the region's economic development and as a stimulus for sustainable development. As of today the Olympic project in Russia has already created and supported 239 000 new jobs, and basically, the "Sochi 2014" sustainable development management system itself is going to be the principal element of the Games' legacy".