Gateway City

Newly Announced Host of 2014 Olympic Games Sochi, Russia Taps Helios Partners Olympic Expertise

GUATEMALA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sochi Russia, has emerged triumphant as the host city for the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, following the two year consulting support of Atlanta-based Helios Partners.

Up against two previous bid cities, Salzburg, Austria, and Pyeongchang, South Korea, Sochi had long been considered the underdog in the race. In the middle of 2005, Helios joined the fledgling Sochi bid committee and helped craft a highly competitive bid. By pulling together an extensive network of leading Olympic Games experts and tapping into the wealth of its internal bid city experience, the team succeeded in elevating the worldwide awareness of Sochi as a “Gateway to the Future.” The Sochi Olympic effort will now serve as the catalyst that transforms this dramatic region into a global centre for tourism, commerce and sports training.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the victory and honoured to have been a part of this massive effort to bring the first Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to Russia,” said Terrence Burns, President of Helios Partners. Reflecting on the victory, Dmitry Chernyshenko, the leader of the Sochi bid, commented, “We knew we needed the best team working behind the scenes to have a chance of winning and that is exactly what we had. Helios was critical to the success of this effort. We would not have won without their experience and leadership.”

As part of their vital role, Helios designed, developed and wrote what some Olympic bid followers have said is the best candidature file created to date. This three volume document, also known as the bid book, serves as the all encompassing programme for the hosting of an Olympic and Paralympic Games. The engagement also included design of the Sochi logo and look of the bid, oversight of the critical IOC Evaluation Commission visit, and development, management and training for Sochi’s winning final presentation to the IOC. With the Sochi victory, and previous wins for Beijing, and Vancouver, Helios has now been an integral part of three of the last four successful bids for Olympic host city status.

A picturesque resort city, Sochi lies on the Black Sea Coast in the shadow of the spectacular Caucasus Mountains and Krasnaya Polyana, the area that will host alpine and sliding events. Sochi now looks ahead with excitement as they begin preparations to bring the world to their doorstep in 2014. For more information about Sochi, visit www.sochi2014.com

Helios Partners, Inc. with offices in Atlanta, Beijing, London and Washington D.C., specializes in sports marketing, brand assessment and integration, sponsorship negotiation and management, and bid city consulting. To learn more about Helios, visit www.heliospartners.com