social studies, geography & language destination sochi · social studies, geography &...

CANADIAN OLYMPIC SCHOOL PROGRAM | Winter 2013/2014

STUDENT WORKBOOK

Social Studies, Geography & Language

D E S T I N AT I O N S O C H I

www.olympic.ca/education

CANADIAN OLYMPIC SCHOOL PROGRAM | Winter 2013/2014 www.olympic.ca/education

DESTINATION SOCHI | STUDENT WORKBOOK

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Left to right: Iceberg Skating Palace Adler Arena Theatre Academy of Konstantin Khabensky

Your team must create and promote an action-packed tour package that features Sochi’s natural and cultural highlights, and offers the chance to see Canada’s best athletes go for gold. With only months to go before the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, you must act fast to produce a presentation or video to promote the travel package to youth.

In the winter of 2014, the world will come to Russia when Sochi hosts the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. You entered the sport tourism industry for just this type of opportunity. Jet Set, the official hospitality provider of the Canadian Olympic Committee, has tasked you and your team of travel consultants with the job of creating the ultimate youth travel package for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

DESTINATION SOCHISOCIAL STUDIES, GEOGRAPHY & LANGUAGE


CANADIAN OLYMPIC SCHOOL PROGRAM | Winter 2013/2014 www.olympic.ca/education3

Jet Set Sports, a Canadian company specializing in travel tours to Olympic and Paralympic Games, is a global leader in creating once-in-a-lifetime Games experiences. They see the Olympic Games as “an opportunity for people to interact with a global audience in ways they might never experience in their own home country.”

The advantage of a tour package is that they have set costs and schedules. Knowing your budget ahead of time can help you set aside cash for other things such as shopping. But be warned, if you don’t budget appropriately, it can be expensive. Cheaper packages cost about $2,000 per person, but throw in complete ticket, transportation, meals and accommodation and you could easily hit $12,000 a person.

The Olympic Winter Games are much smaller than the Olympic Games, so every event is in high demand. Tour companies have a better chance of getting tickets than a person traveling on their own, but they have to be careful to distribute these among a variety of tour packages.

For an Olympic tour, the key is to book your tickets early, says Jet Set. Travel companies have better access to tickets for tour packages, and can ensure hot items, such as hockey, are part of the package. The big three sports (Hockey, Alpine Skiing and Figure Skating) and the gold medal finals will sell out fast. Jet Set Sports tries to make sure that all of their packages

Sochi is best known as a summer beach resort on the Black Sea, and is home to about 400,000 people. So it was a surprise for many Russians that it would play host to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. But with a steadfast determination and epic investment, Russia has constructed a stunning Olympic City with state-of-the-art sports facilities. Everything is set for an amazing Olympic Winter Games that Canadian youth will not want to miss.

Visiting an Olympic City offers fans more than just great sports. It also offers a glimpse into a different culture, with different customs, languages and food. The Olympic Games are about seeing the world and expanding your own view of that world through sport.

Sochi 2014 is the first Olympic Games held in Russia since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. A lot has changed in Russia since then: the fall of Communism, the rise of capitalism, and the emergence of a freer and more democratic society. But make no mistake, visiting Westerners will be struck by how different it is from back home.

Olympic alpine skier Georgia Simmerling grew up racing on the North Shore of Vancouver. Having travelled the world to compete, she advises young travelers that, “there’s a lot in Sochi that is different, so being prepared for that will help make for a good experience.”

DESTINATION SOCHI

THE MOUNTAIN CLUSTERThe Mountain Cluster will host Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Freestyle Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Biathlon, and Ski Jumping. Located in the village of Krasnaya Polyana, near Sochi, it is noted for its spectacular skiing and panoramic views of the snow-covered West Caucasus Mountains. Dave Duncan, a Canadian ski cross Olympian living in Golden, B.C., says, “The course there is big and fun.” He predicts, “Canada’s going to do well.”

Unlike previous Olympic Winter Games where skiing and snowboarding events were held at an established winter resorts, the Mountain Cluster was specifically built for the Sochi 2014 Games. When the Olympic Flame is extinguished, the facilities will become Russia’s leading winter sports resort.



Plan a couple of special dinners where local delicacies can be tried. Part of the fun of travel is taking a chance on new food experiences.

Visitors to Sochi with an interest in architecture and design will be in for a treat. Many of the facilities have been designed to mimic natural elements such as an iceberg, a glacier and a water drop. Plan the trip to include special interest outings to see some of the classic architecture, natural beauty, and world-class theatre, galleries and museums.

Don’t forget to build in time for the Cultural Olympiad. Many of the concerts and art displays are free or quite reasonably priced. These will give visitors a real taste of the richness of Russian culture.

A great Olympic Games tour offers a varied mix of sports, cultural festivities, scenery, shopping, and sleep. The key is balance and not over-scheduling. Participants shouldn’t come home exhausted, but rather full of great memories and wanting more in two years.

contain at least 75% of those big events. They then fill in the rest of the tour with tickets to preliminary events and less in-demand sports such as biathlon. Most youth will want to catch some of the extreme sports like Snowboard Cross and Freestyle Skiing.

Schedule the tour so that you don’t end up in transit for half a day. The Games are set in two main locations called a Coastal Cluster and a Mountain Cluster. Even though the train between clusters only takes 30 minutes, budget at least two hours for the transit. That includes leaving one place, getting to the next, going through security and maybe eating as well. It is no fun to be in a situation where you arrive late and have to leave early to get to your next event. Jet Set Sports recommends scheduling at least twenty percent of each day as free time for people to do their own thing.

The Coastal Cluster promises milder weather than the mountains. The Park is in the Valley, which in February averages 6°C. Still, expect humidity and potentially winds that “cut right through you,” according to Canadian Short Track Speed Skater, Olivier Jean. Stay warm by planning the schedule to include time for hot meals.

During the Games it won’t be difficult to find places to eat, and many food options will be very appealing to Canadian youth. As an Olympic Sponsor, McDonalds will have a strong presence at all the venues, and other Western favourites like pizza will be readily available.

DESTINATION SOCHI

THE COASTAL CLUSTERThe Coastal Cluster, located in a valley along the Black Sea, is home to Sochi Olympic Park. This will be where the Opening and Closing Ceremonies occur, medals are awarded, and the ice events are contested.

For the first time in history, the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games will offer all of the ice events in one Olympic Park, making it possible to see up to three events in a day. This condensed venue plan will help people to maximize their time at the Games.

Initially the warmer Black Sea temperatures caused a concern about ice quality, but test events seem to have shown that some of these concerns might be overblown. Ivanie Blondin, one of Canada’s Long Track Speed Skating stars, says the Oval has “the potential to be fast.”



DESTINATION SOCHI

RIDING THE WAVE SIGHTSEEING IN SOCHI THE COST OF THE GAMES

Canada’s elite winter athletes will be riding a wave of momentum into the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi following the unprecedented 26-medal performance four years earlier on home soil in Vancouver. The Canadian Olympic Team closed out with the most medals it has ever won at a Winter Games (26) as well as the most gold medals (14) any country has ever won at a single Olympic Winter Games.

Sightseeing opportunities in Sochi may include relaxing in mineral springs and taking in various museums, cafes, parks, attractions and monuments including: Stalin’s Summer Residence converted into a museum, the 90-foot high Agura waterfalls, Riviera Park billed as Sochi’s most popular amusement park, the Winter Theatre (and Summer Theatre), the Sochi History Museum, and even a Dolphinarium featuring performances by trained dolphins, lions, fur seals and killer whales.

Russia is putting more money into Sochi than has gone into any other Olympic Games in history — including the much larger summer Games. At more than $50 billion overall, these Olympic Winter Games surpass the $43 billion 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing, which involved about four times as many athletes as will compete in Sochi.



To guide this initiative, Jet Set has done extensive market research to determine what Canadian youth would feel is an ideal trip to the Olympic Winter Games. Their findings are presented in the Research Results Table on page 5.

Based on available airline, rail or bus tickets, your package can span any seven days from February 6th to February 23rd.

Use the market research data to determine which Olympic events to include in the package. With Canada’s goal of leading the medal count, research our Canadian medal hopefuls and plan the viewing schedule accordingly.

Sochi has always been a summer resort rich in history. It is a beautiful seaside city that is filled with gardens and beaches. As a result, Jet Set requests that you arrange the package to include a variety of activities that feature the culture, history and natural beauty of the city.

WHEN JET SET HIRED YOUR TEAM, THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE CLEAR: CREATE A TOUR TO THE SOCHI 2014 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES THAT WILL EXCITE CANADIAN YOUTH.

In the winter of 2014, Sochi will host what is expected to be the most expensive Olympic Games ever. It will be spectacular, and you are part of a team of travel experts in charge of designing the ultimate youth Olympic travel experience. The travel package that you create will be the tour of a lifetime and will profile the best Canadian medal hopefuls and the classic sites and cultural activities in a city admired as being Russia’s Black Sea Pearl. It will be a mix of sport, culture and natural beauty.

Your task will be to develop a promotional video or Prezi/PowerPoint presentation that will outline the activities, costs, itinerary, and historical and cultural sites. The purpose of your video or presentation is to inform the viewers and to persuade them on why they can’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

YOUTH TRAVEL RESEARCHYour previous market research has found that youth travelers enjoy exploring the backstreets of a city and “everyday life.”

One of the greatest challenges will be ground transport. While it is important to make this tour an experience of a lifetime, it is also critical not to overbook. Although the public transit system is quite extensive, the city is very spread out and the mountain facilities will take time to reach. Travel will be crowded and getting between venues and sites will likely be slower than normal. Ensure that the itinerary provides adequate transit time between activities, as Jet Set will have to compensate all travelers who miss a scheduled event due to ground transit delays. Adequate time for sleep and meals must also be taken into consideration.

Arrange for five full days in Sochi above and beyond flight times. You and your team of travel consultants need to produce a video or presentation that will clearly lay out this travel package and promote this trip of a lifetime!

Bolshoi Ice Dome, Fisht Olympic Stadium, Shayba Arena Laura Cross Country Ski and Biathlon Center



RESEARCH RESULTS TABLE How many Olympic competitions would I like to see? Team sports 42% Individual sports 85% Sports that are new to me 56% Sports where Canada is expected to medal 71% Popular winter sports 78% I want to experience the city by… Visiting historic sites 71% Tasting different cuisine 91% Shopping 100% Seeing displays of art 60% Hearing musical concerts 86% Visiting parks and gardens 35% Visiting museums 62% Attending the Sochi 2014 Cultural Olympiad 94% To attend the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games (airfare excluded), I expect to pay… Less than $3,999 12% Between $4,000 - $6,999 49% More than $7,000 39%

YOUTH TRAVEL RESEARCH

ROLE OF COC

EXPERIENCE SOCHI

The Canadian Olympic Committee is a national, private, not-for-profit organization committed to sport excellence. It is responsible for all aspects of Canada’s involvement in the Olympic Movement, including Canada’s participation in the Olympic and Pan American/Parapan Amrerican Games and a wide variety of programs that promote the Olympic Movement in Canada through cultural and educational means.

Canada has many medal hopefuls at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Check out some of these amazing athletes at olympic.ca.

The Russian culture and way of life is quite a bit different from what most Canadian students will have experienced. Plan some time for them to wander the city, visit cultural events and experience the history of the region.

Akhun Tower, Sochi



and travel package and design and develop your video or presentation in time to submit your project on its due date.

Research – Research the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games competition schedule, medal hopefuls, cultural sites, accommodation, and transportation and select the seven-day time period for your travel package. Then task your team of experts to identify your best options for sport, culture and other activities in and around Sochi. The quality of your research impacts the quality of your tour package and its value.

Map out your itinerary – Once you have selected your optimal travel window, start to schedule your events. Use the Tour Itinerary to help draft your tour and manage your options. Make sure to consult the Research Results Table in order to develop the most attractive tour package for Canadian youth.

Create Your Video or Presentation – Make your tour come to life through the development of either a promotional video or presentation. Remember, you have been hired because your employer has heard of your creativity and skills at developing the most cutting edge promotional materials. Make them proud!

As you know, travel requires considerable planning, especially when you are planning it for others! You will need to plan your time wisely to meet the deadline for production of the final package and presentation or video.

YOU WILL NEED TO:

Identify a Project Leader – Identify a leader on your team that will oversee the entire project. This person should be open and willing to work with your entire team to complete this task.

Designate Experts – When researching travel options in Sochi, you will need to designate experts for particular areas. You will need to identify your strengths and divide the work up to successfully accomplish this task. Depending on the number of people in your group, your workloads and areas of responsibility will vary. You may want to have individuals tasked to lead research, write the script for the presentation or video, develop the tour content, and help with the technical components of the video or presentation.

Develop a task timeline – Note the due date for submitting your final travel package video or presentation. Using the Tour Planning Development Outline, develop a timeline that indicates how long you have to do your research, create your itinerary

PLANNING THE TOUR

TRAVEL PACKAGE CHECKLIST

Consult the researchCreate an itinerary for seven days in Sochi to include:

Olympic events Cultural activities Site seeing Transportation and travel time between activities Meal time “Down time” for relaxation Sleep> Find affordable accommodation> Determine price, excluding flight> Travel tips & considerations (safety, transportation)> Design and create the presentation or video> Be creative, have fun and make sure your plans are realistic!

Riviera Park



TOUR ITINERARYCoordinating a busy travel schedule requires an organized itinerary. Use this outline to help plan your time and ensure that you incorporate all the sites and events that your team intends to include in the tour. Fill in the blocks for each time period indicating location and event/activity. Use symbols and colours to keep your schedule clear. For instance, you might block off the travel times.

6:00 - 7:007:00 - 8:008:00 - 9:009:00 - 10:0010:00 - 11:0011:00 - 12:0012:00 - 13:0013:00 - 14:0014:00 - 15:0015:00 - 16:0016:00 - 17:0017:00 - 18:0018:00 - 19:0019:00 - 20:0020:00 - 21:0021:00 - 22:0022:00 - 23:0023:00 - 0:000:00 - 1:001:00 - 2:002:00 - 3:003:00 - 4:004:00 - 5:005:00 - 6:00

TIME / DAY > DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6 DAY 7 DAY 8 DAY 9 DAY 10



TOUR PACKAGE DEVELOPMENT OUTLINEProject Leader:

Group Members:

Date Assigned:

Primary Roles:

Project Due Date:

TASK START DATE END DATE TASK LEAD NAME TASK SUPPORT NAMES NOTES

THE CANADIAN OLYMPIC SCHOOL PROGRAM WISHES TO THANK AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE

CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE. WITHOUT THEIR EFFORTS, AND CREATIVITY, THIS

PROJECT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.

CANADIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEETy GreeneDerek KentJulie MahoneyKate MoorhouseNathaniel MillerOlya OvtchinnikovaSandra SassinePaulo SenraTys van der Drift

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS WEBSITE Todd DenisMark NadolnyGeorgia Sapounas

WRITER Bruce Deacon

GRAPHIC DESIGNERAndy Maier TRANSLATION Célyne Malette, EditorPascale Seide LegrosAnne-Marie Lemieux

FEATURED ATHLETESIvanie BlondinDave DuncanOlivier JeanGeorgia Simmerling

Left to right: Iceberg Skating Palace Sochi 2014 Olympic Park in Imeretinskaya Valley Sochi 2014 Olympic Park

DESTINATION SOCHI | STUDENT WORKBOOK | Winter 2013/2014

social studies, geography & language destination sochi · social studies, geography &...

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