2014 Sochi (Russia)
XXIIth Winter Olympic Games from 02/07 to 02/23/2014
Day -1 – 6 Février
Arrived yesterday at St Petersburg, we got the shuttle to airport. Later, we arrive in 2014 Sochi with a beautiful sun. We go to the boat by taxi. One pass is necessary to enter in the port and one second to enter in the boat. After our installation, we go out, the railway station, by walking is not so far, 25 mn, and is situed near MPC and IBC. After security, we go to the town of Sochi where is the Sochi Media Center. We got our package and credential. We come back at the boat later.
Day 0 – Opening Ceremony – 7 February
We go to media center, 2 collectors are here to get pins from medias. We stay 1h, and we go to Olympic Park by train. All people come for the opening Ceremony, as we don’t have ticket, we comeback to the boat to see the ceremony on the big screen.
Day 1 – 8 February
Today, it’s biathlon for us. We go to Krasnaya Polyana, in the mountain cluster. Before biathlon, we visit Club France, near medias center and the village. It is always in works, maybe at the end of the games, all will be finished! It’s time to go to biathlon. Many people on the way, not a good organisation, when we arrive, the race is already started. Unfortunately, Martin Fourcade, our french champion, finish at the 6th place. Before the end of the race, we go out, but we are not alone and it’s a long way to comeback to Club France. We take the train for Adler and Olympic village.
Day 2 – 9 February
Today, we go to 2014 Sochi Olympic Park for the 1st time, before we stay at Medias Center. When we arrive at the Olympic Park, sponsors are on the left, the pavilions of the russian regions are on the right. On the way, we met Igor, one collector friend. We follow him to the Russian Fans House where is the Pin Trading Coca-Cola. We stay to make changes. Later, we comeback home.
Day 3 – 10 February
Today, we have Short Track, but before, we go to Media Center, we make a stop at the bank to try to get olympic commemorative banknotes, but it’s not possible. Then we go to Olympic Park and to Iceberg skating palace. The competition is very interesting and spectacular. Great time with canadian supporters. After, we go to PTC. At 10 pm, it’s time to comeback.
Day 4 – 11 February
We go to the Media Center. We meet french journalists from BFMTV, they ask us if it’s possible to make an interview, no problem! After, we go to Olympic Park. I visit it, I saw differents houses, Switzerland, Canada, USA… The medal place is near the olympic flame. After, I go to PTC, and I comeback to medal place to see the gold medal of Martin Fourcade and the bronze medal of Jean-Guillaume Beatrix. We comeback home later.
Day 5 – 12 February
I go to Media Center, in Sochi town. Later, I comeback to 2014 Sochi olympic park. We visit Canada house.
Day 6 – 13 February
Today, we have hockey. A short stop at the Media center, then we go to PTC for 3 hours. At the end we go to Bolshoy, arena hockey. We see Russia against Slovenia. Russia dominate Slovenia and win 5 to 2.
Day 7 – 14 February
Stop at the Media center to make some changes, after we go to 2014 Sochi Olympic Park. Claude stay at pin trading and I go to Olympic Store. A big moment! many people and a poor organization! After, I go to the Post office, just near the russian fan house. Bad administration! We stay at the pin trading till the end.
Day 8 – 15 February
We go to mountain cluster, we have skeleton today. Before, we stay at Club France. Luc Alphand is here. Later, we start to go to skeleton. We meet Jeff who sold us the tickets. We comeback to the boat.
Day 9 – 16 February
Men’s Super giant is to our program today, we must start early. When we arrive, the race is already started, it was advanced of 1 hour. We meet the parents of a french athlet, Thomas Mermillod-Blondin.
Day 10 – 17 February
We go to the Media Center. Doug Todd is here, it’s his last day. I see Karen Rosen, an US journalist from « Around The Rings », internet media. I know her from several years. She ask me if I accept an interview, of course, yes! After we go to the train together, but I go to Sochi and Claude to Olympic Park. I stay to Media Center and at the end of the afternoon, I comeback to Olympic Park, in late. Irina and Claude are here. We leave the PTC, in the train we meet french canadians, parents of a short track skater!
Day 11 – 18 February
We go to Media Center, then to Olympic Park. Claude go directly to PTC, I visit sponsors pavilions, first, then Audi and Sberbank. I enter in the Russian fan house. We trade pins. I meet a swiss man who go to winter games. It was not easy to come to Sochi for him, because he don’t have any invitation to get a visa. He never go in hotel, just with his sleeping bag, he sleep in the snow, whatever the weather! It is raining. Later, the IOC president, Thomas Bach, come for visit us. I ask him: do you think that you be at the next Olympic Fair in Lausanne? He answer me, if I am in Lausanne, I will take a moment to visit the collectors!
Day 12 – 19 February
After the rain of yesterday, it’s a beautiful sun for the day. I start before Claude, I stay at Media Center, I am the first of the collectors today. I make some good changes. Fede, a spanish who collect olympic mascots come with me. A dog come to play with us, and he stay on the Fede’s pins, gggrrrr! Claude arrive later. I leave the Media Center and I go to get the train for Sochi. On the way, I meet Irina. I arrive to Sochi Media Center, at 2 pm, press conference with snowboarder Nikolai Olyunin, silver medalist in cross. I am still at Sochi Media Center, a russian journalist want interview a foreign journalist to take his impressions. Why not ? To see it, in russian, go to http://www.tvc.ru/, when? I don’t know! Later, I take again the train to Olympic Park, the sun is sleeping, I join Claude at PTC.
Day 13 – 20 February
I start before Claude, I make a stop at the Media Center where I find Tim. Some trades before to go to Sochi Media. I see Nelson Montfort, sport journalist at France TV. He is not alone, Philippe Candeloro, Mathieu Bozzetto and Annick Dumont are here. Arrived at Sochi, I go directly to Media Center, then I visit the sea port. I comeback to Olympic park. The medal ceremony will start, we have 5 frenches on the podiums. Steve Missilier and Alexis Pinturault for the Giant slalom and on the same podium for the 1st time, 3 ski cross athlets. Just after, I go to Krasnaya Polyana to join Club France and see the medalists. Champagne!! Later, an other silver medalist, Marie Martinod. After, I comeback to the boat.
Day 14 – 21 February
This morning, it is raining. We stop at the Media Center before to go to Olympic Park. Before to trade at the PTC, I go to post office and I comeback for trading.
Day 15 – 22 February
Sun today ! we go to media center for some trades, not so many people. I go to Sochi, the article of Karen Rosen is on « Around the Rings ». After a stay at PTC, we comeback on the boat. No taxi this evening, prices are too hot!
Day 16 – Closing Ceremony – 23 February
After a brief stop at the media center, I go on the bridge to join Irina and sell the pins that I don’t wanted. For the last day, we go to PTC untill start of the closing ceremony ! Irina get a ticket for the closing ceremony. We go to the Olympic stadium to see fireworks. After we go to the boat to see the end of the ceremony. Bye bye Sochi and see you next time in Rio de Janeiro!!