The global firm, whose headquarters are in London, are to be the Official Professional Services Provider to the Games.

PwC is the world's second-largest professional services firm and the deal with Sochi is a coup over its closest rivals, Deloitte, who are London 2012 sponsors and closely involved with the Olympic Movement. 

PwC will work on over 70 projects in the areas of planning, preparation and staging of the Games, taxation, human resources, sustainability, marketing, financial planning and budgeting, among others.

"For over 20 years, PwC has worked hard to contribute to the development of the modern Russian business community and the country at large," said Robert Gruman, partner and advisory leader at PwC Russia.

"Russia's success in being entrusted to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi is a testament to how far this country has come during those years.

"We recognise that Sochi 2014 is modern Russia's chance to showcase itself to the world.

"PwC, in its turn, is extremely proud to have been entrusted by the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee to help plan, prepare and stage the Games – and to help deliver a larger legacy of socioeconomic development that the Games make possible.

"In working with the Organising Committee, PwC has the chance not only to provide strategic advice, but also to offer practical solutions for a range of management, sustainability and planning challenges.

"We are helping the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee to pioneer a new approach to preparing the Games, implementing a project-oriented organisation.

"We are forming a unique model for managing large-scale national projects, which can be adapted to other events of a similar scale.

"We are also able to share international experience acquired by PwC in carrying out projects for Olympic and Paralympic Games in other countries.

"We are committed to assisting Russia in hosting the best, most innovative Olympic and Paralympic Games ever."

As partners, PwC and the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee have already carried out successful projects in the areas of governance, operational and tactical planning.

The PwC assisted the Organising Committee in setting up its budgeting and reporting processes, and carried out a comprehensive analysis of their personnel and resource planning needs.

The new deal was officially launched at a special ceremony attended by Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak and Jean-Claude Killy (pictured speaking), the chairman of the International Olympic Committee's Coordination Commission for Sochi 2014. 


"When holding such large-scale events as the Olympic and Paralympic Games, it is critical to have business partners you can rely on," said Dmitry Chernyshenko, the President and chief executive of·Sochi·2014.

"PwC has been active in Russia for more than 20 years and has made significant contributions to Russia's economic development.

"PwC has expanded the boundaries of business and brought global best practice to Russia.

"The firm has always been distinguished by the fresh approach and original thinking of its people in meeting new challenges, which is exactly why we have chosen them. Working together with PwC and based on global best practice, we have developed an advanced model for managing the Sochi Games.

"Ahead of us lies the larger task of managing the Games' legacy."

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