Twin towns line up for winter Olympics

At the Vancouver closing ceremony, the Olympic flag was handed over to Mr Anatoly Pakhomov, Mayor of Sochi, who invited all winter sports enthusiasts to join him in Sochi in February 2014 for Russia's first ever winter Olympic games.  He promised to deliver positive and lasting change through the Olympics and Paralympic Games.  ''This is our gateway to the future,'' he said, a phrase which also happens to be Sochi's Olympic tagline.

The Black Sea coastal town of Sochi, with the Krasnador mountains behind, has been twinned with Cheltenham since the 1950s and boasts that visitors to the Olympics will be able to swim in the sea and ski on the mountains at the same time.

Meanwhile, Cheltenham's French twin town of Annecy is one of three candidate cities bidding to host the 2018 winter Olympics.   Annecy is competing with Munich Germany and Pyeongchang in South Korea and will know if it has been successful on 6 July 2011.  

Annecy prides itself on being environmentally friendly.  The town itself sits along one side of the purest lakes in Europe.  It will provide excellent eco-friendly winter sports facilities in the middle of one of the best skiing areas in the world.  The winter Olympics were last held in this area in 1924 in Chamonix.

Annette Wight, the council's twinning officer said: ''It's great for Cheltenham to have this link with the next two winter Olympics.   Given the strong relationship we already have with Sochi and Annecy, I hope we can build on this and give local businesses and young people the opportunity to be a part of these exciting events.''

Councillor Garth Barnes, chairman of twinning, said: ''We feel very proud that two of our five twin towns may host the winter Olympics and very much hope that Annecy will continue to be successful in their bid.''

For more information about Cheltenham's twinning links, contact Annette Wight on 01242 264311, Annette.wight@cheltenham.gov.uk

ENDS

For press enquiries, contact: Katie Sandey, communications team leader, telephone 01242 775050 or email Katie.sandey@cheltenham.gov.uk

For more information on the Sochi Olympics, visit:
http://sochi2014.com/en/sochi-live/

For more information on the Annecy bid, visit:
http://www.annecy2018.com/fr/

Cheltenham is also twinned with Göttingen Germany, Cheltenham Pennsylvania USA and Weihai China.  It has friendship links with Stampersgat in the Netherlands and Kisumu in Kenya.