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Russian Olympic bid chairwoman visits Vancouver

Sochi one of six candidates for 2014 Winter Olympics

The 2010 Olympics may still be more than three years away but already future prospective Olympic hosts are visiting Vancouver and Whistler to learn about bidding for the Games.

The chairwoman of the Sochi 2014 Bid group was in Vancouver May 30-June 1 to visit the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Elena Anikina’s trip to Vancouver included a tour of sports venues and inspection of some permanent Games facilities, as well as informal meetings with senior VANOC members.

According to a press release, the goal of Anikina’s trip was to experience first-hand how to balance the need for sustainable development with long-term legacies and how best to implement the Games’ organizational strategy.

"My time in Vancouver was a most enriching experience. I have come away with a better understanding of the sporting aspects, the structure and challenges faced by the OCOG," Anikina said in the release.

The IOC will shortlist candidate cities for the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in the next few weeks.

Sochi is a year-round resort located on the Black Sea in southern Russia.

Other candidates for the 2014 Games include Salzburg, Austria; Pyeongchang, South Korea; Jaca, Spain; Sofia, Bulgaria; Borjomi, Georgia; and Almaty, Kazakhstan.