Sochi
City and Population
The Black Sea resort of Sochi has risen to global prominence after having been awarded the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Situated along 140 km of the coast (the longest city in Europe) and against the backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains, this resort, now commonly referred to as the "Russian Riviera", has long been one of Russia's most popular tourist destinations and a truly great sports city. Sochi is internationally linked by the Adler - Sochi International Airport.
SIGHTS
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Caucasus Biosphere Reserve lies just north of the city. This geography allows Sochi to offer a large variety of both summer and winter sporting activities. The city itself also has a number of impressive buildings, including the Michael Archangel Church, the Winter Theatre and the railway terminal station. Numerous parks and green areas contribute to the city's pleasant surroundings and help to attract about two million people for visits each summer.
Football
FC Zhemchuzhina Sochi currently plays in the Second Division but will be promoted to the First Division for the 2010 season, having won the Second Division South Championship in 2009. More than 1,200 youth players are registered in the two football sports schools of Sochi.
Stadium
The new FIFA World Cup™ Stadium Sochi will be located alongside the beautiful cast of the Black Sea, just a mere 150 metres from the water. The facility offers stunning views of the mountains and the sea. Developed as the Olympic Stadium for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the facility is part of a complex of sport facilities and will host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the Winter Games. The geographical features that have shaped Sochi - the mountains and sea - inspired the architectural concept of the stadium.
FAN FEST
The square in front of the Sochi Art Museum is known for becoming an open-air stage for different events and public performances in the evening, while freelance artists roam the place during the daytime. This lively centre of Sochi shall serve as the city's main Fan Fest area, offering a capacity for approximately 20,000 fans.
