Sochi Medals Ceremonies at the heart of the Games

For the first time in history the Olympic medals will be awarded to Games medalists in Sochi at the very center of the Olympic Park bringing fans closer to the champions. Athletes will be honored immediately after the conclusion of finals at the Olympic venues themselves as part of the Flower Ceremonies, but the medals will be presented in the Medals Plaza in the shadow of the Olympic Cauldron.

A total of 120 girls will participate in the Medals and Flower Ceremonies. A specially created music score, national costumes, unique Sochi 2014 medals and original flower bouquets for the Awards Ceremonies will reflect the hospitable character of the Games in Sochi. The First Medal Award Ceremony at the Medals Plaza will be held today, February 8. Olympic competition medal winners in slopestyle and ski racing will receive their awards. The Medal ceremony starts at 20:14.The schedule of events in Medals Plaza is available on sochi2014.com/en/spectators-olympic-park

Medal Awards Ceremonies

The majority of the Games medals in Sochi will be awarded on the day of event finals or on the following evening in the Olympic Park at the Medals Plaza. These evening Awards Ceremonies will be held from February 8 to February 22, 2014.

During the Awards Ceremony the champions and medalists of the Olympic Games in Sochi will be ceremonially awarded bouquets and medals. The flags of the victor’s country will be raised, and their national anthems will be performed. More than 20,000 guests are set to be present each evening at the Medals Plaza.

Flower Awards Ceremonies

The Flower Ceremonies will be held at the sports venues immediately after the completion of the event finals. An awards group consisting of between 9 and 33 people works at each venue. All of the flower girls have taken part in a special training program with choreographers and stylists. Selection for the Ceremonies groups took place among Sochi's residents.

The bouquets of the Ceremonies symbolize the colors of the resort city of Sochi. The yellow color of the stiff-leaved goldenrod has not only decorative beauty, but also healing properties that symbolize the wealth of Krasnodar Region. Green and white chrysanthemums represent the contrast of valleys, meadows and mountains stretching along the Black Sea coast. Laurel, the symbol of the winners, conveys the warmth and hospitality of the peoples of the Caucasus. The eucalyptus included in these bouquets has historical significance. It was planted in Sochi in order to drain wetlands.

The musical theme that is played during the Awards Ceremonies was written especially for the Games in Sochi. It embodies the victorious spirit of the Olympic athletes.

Show program

Musical shows organized by Europa Plus, a supplier of the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi in the "Concert Organizer" category and a popular Russian radio station, will be performed before and after the Awards Ceremony for athletes in the very heart of the Olympic Park at the Medals Plaza.v

Famous singers from both Russia and abroad, such as Tokio, Nochnnye Snaipery, Brainstorm, 5sta family, Checherina, e-type, Bi-2 and many others will perform for the Olympic park visitors. The concerts are free for all the visitors. The detailed concert schedule as well as the list of performers is available on www.europaplustv.com/sochi2014.

For more information contact: the Press Service for the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee:sochi2014.com | media@sochi2014.com | +7 495 984 2014

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