On 26 September 2013 in Sochi the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), Russian Olympic University (RIOU) and Sochi City Administration established a dedicated Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Games Archive.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the IOC's Coordination Commission for the XXII Olympic Winter Games, Jean-Claude Killy, the IOC's Executive Director for the Olympic Games, Gilbert Felli, IOC Director of Technology and Information, Jean-Benoit Gauthier, the head of the Russian Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov, the Mayor of Sochi, Anatoly Pakhomov, president of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko and the President of the Russian International Olympic University, Professor Lev Belousov.
The archive will bring together and preserve memorable information about the Games and will be a legacy to allow future generations to understand the transformational effect of the Games. This will enable future research on the Olympic Movement and sport more widely by academics and Olympic fans, as well as providing engaging content for educational programs and events to promote the values of Olympism. The signing of this document signifies a formal agreement on how to facilitate the process of creating, storing and using the archive.
In accordance with the agreement and the consent of the IOC, the Organizing Committee will provide materials – including electronic copies of documents, official publications of audio, photo and video materials for the entire period of its work, artifacts and memorabilia – to the Russian International Olympic University archive, which will be fully maintained by the RIOU. The University, as the chief curator of the legacy, will catalog materials and provide researchers with access for non-commercial, informational, scientific, educational or cultural research. The ROC is responsible for this legacy with the aim of strengthening the fundamental values of the Olympic Movement. It will also oversee the delivery of the Archive after the completion of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee's activities.
The Administration of Sochi will create a network for the cooperation with archives and museums of the city and for the efficient use of archive materials during educational and outreach programs to promote the Olympic legacy.
The President of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko said:
"The RIOU will become the custodian of the knowledge created by the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee during the preparations for the Games. It is through the RIOU that we can transfer this knowledge to future generations of sports managers who will be organizing large-scale sporting events across the country."
"The importance of this agreement cannot be overstated. Establishing the 2014 Games Archive will further the humanitarian legacy of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Additionally, it ensures open access to the 2014 Games Archive materials and their use for informational, research, and educational purposes, which will certainly broaden the horizons of science in sports and the Olympic Movement. I'm proud to be involved in this project," commented the president of the Russian Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov.
The Mayor of Sochi, Anatoly Pakhomov, said: "Holding the Games in Sochi began a new countdown for us. The creation of the Games 2014 Archive here is of great importance as we will preserve the historical memory of the city. I'm sure that the RIOU will not only provide storage for the Olympic materials, but offer them fantastic opportunities that will benefit the rest of their lives.
Rector of the RIOU, Professor Lev Belousov, said: "I believe this is a fundamental document allowing us to preserve seven years of work experience in the organization of the Games in Sochi- detailing the transformation of the city, the region, and the country. Our mission is not only in the cataloging and storage of these materials, but also in the use of the documents in the Archives for educational and research programs. Students, members of the Olympic Family, and all those interested in the study and promotion of the traditions and values of the Olympic spirit will have free access to these materials."
The archive documents cannot be used for advertising or marketing. RIOU guarantees the IOC safe storage of these materials in accordance with best practices and international standards.
