Despite controversial plans to site Sochi Centre at London’s Marble Arch during the 2012 Olympic Games, Sochi 2014 Olympic organizing committee President Dmitry Chernyshenko told GamesBids.com that plans are still in the works.
“Now we are in the process of working alongside Westminster Council to revise our plans for the Marble Arch,” Chernyshenko said during an exclusive interview released today on GamesBids.com ( Podcast: Interview with Sochi 2014 Olympic Organizing Committee President Dmitry Chernyshenko ).
“We respect and understand the concerns that have been raised but I am confident that we can address each and every one of them and our venue in London will be full of fun, entertaining and informative.”
The Sochi organizing committee made plans for an ice rink, theatre and hospitality facilities to promote their 2014 Olympic Winter Games at a cost of about $16 million that would attract thousands daily – but these plans were rejected by the Westminster Council over safety and security concerns as well as the potential disruption to the local community for months surrounding the Games.
Marble Arch is used by Royalty for ceremonial processions, it is located adjacent to Hyde Park on a large traffic island.
He added “of course it should be safe, secure, easy to access, easy to get out of and in accordance to the high demands of London organizers and, of course, respect the needs of Londoners.”
“There are no doubts that Sochi 2014 will have a presence in London.
“I promise that the ice rink, also, will be there – the open-air ice rink which is our feature that we always have to use.”
