Sir Philip (pictured above, centre) was in Russia along with IPC chief executive Xavier Gonzalez to receive the accolade.

The Order of Friendship is usually presented to Russian citizens for excellent service but can also be awarded to foreign nationals for outstanding contributions to strengthening friendship and cooperation between nations and people.

"I am extremely honoured to receive this prestigious award from Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak," said Sir Philip, who is also an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member.

"It is a wonderful surprise and I am deeply touched.

"The Paralympic Movement has come a long way in Russia in recent years and I am confident it will experience exceptional growth in the years to come as a result of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

"The first Paralympic Games ever to take place in Russia are a huge opportunity for the whole Paralympic Movement.

"Thanks to the excellent work of the Local Organising Committee I am confident the whole country will make the most of the upcoming Games, leaving a lasting legacy for sport and people with an impairment in Russia."


Kozak (pictured top, third right), who is overseeing preparations for Sochi 2014, updated Sir Philip and Gonzalez on the creation of a barrier free environment in Sochi, which the Russian Government hopes can act as a blueprint for how other cities in the country can fully integrate people with an impairment into the community.

The Russian Deputy Prime Minster also said that measures are currently being taken to allow the Russian audience to watch the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

"We are working to increase the amount of broadcasting of the London Paralympics by the Russian channels," Kozak said.

"Also, we plan to make the time of the highlights programmes more convenient to attract a bigger audience."

The visit marked the IPC President's first trip to Sochi, where, along with Gonzalez (pictured below, third right), he saw the city's sports venues and infrastructure for the Paralympics.

A total of 1,800 different venues will be made accessible by 2014, including the Sochi International Airport, while almost a third of them are already fully accessible.

"I'm really impressed with the preparations for the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi – much of the barrier-free city environment already matches up to the IPC's high global standards," added Sir Philip.

"All the venues have acquired their shape and their infrastructure is fully adapted for people with impairments.

"It's a milestone in terms of staging the most innovative Paralympic Games ever, which I'm looking forward to."


Sochi 2014 President and chief executive Dmitry Chernyshenko (pictured above, fourth right) re-emphasised his organisation's commitment to the Paralympics.

"The upcoming Paralympic Games in 2014 are already helping to transform Sochi into a model city in terms of constructing a barrier-free environment," he said.

"All infrastructure in the Olympic and Paralympic host city is fast becoming more accessible to people with an impairment.

"I'm sure that thanks to the Paralympic Games, the environment is accessible and this will start to spring up not just in one particular area, but in other cities throughout Russia."

The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games will take place on March 7-16 and will feature medal events in Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, ice sledge hockey and wheelchair curling.

It was recently announced that two Para-snowboard events will form part of the Alpine skiing programme for the first time at Winter Paralympics.

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