Alexander Grigoriev, the general director of OSAO Ingosstrakh, and Dmitry Chernyshenko, President and chief executive of Sochi 2014, signed the agreement which sees the insurance company become an official partner of the Games and also a sponsor of the Russian Olympic and Paralympic Committees in a deal that includes London 2012 and Rio 2016, as well as Sochi.

"It is a great honour for us to become a Partner of the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Games.” said Grigoriev.

"Ingosstrakh was the general insurer for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, and 34 years later, it will be a partner of Russia’s first Winter Games.

"We are very proud of this status.

"For many years we have experience of working with the organisers of many major sporting events through providing insurance cover in all areas related to staging these events."

OSAO Ingosstrakh join other Sochi sponsors, including Aeroflot, MegaFon, Rostelekom, Rosneft, Sberbank, Volkswagen Group Rus and Bosco Sport, who had already signed deals worth more than $1 billion (£642 million).

Chernyshenko said: "OSAO Ingosstrakh is a leader in its field, with more than 50 years experience in the insurance industry.

"Signing contracts with one of the leading Russian insurance companies makes us confident that the Games are reliably insured.

"Ingosstrakh will provide a world-leading service and will be part of ensuring that Sochi 2014 stage an innovative and inspirational Winter Games."

Vladislav Tretyak, a three-time Olympic gold medallist and ten timeworld champion, who is now President of the Russian Hockey Federation and member of the State Duma, backed OSAO Ingosstrakh to be a good partner for Sochi 2014.

He said: "Ingosstrakh is the oldest and most experienced company in the Russian insurance industry.

For the Russian Hockey Federation it is particularly exciting given the firm’s longstanding commitment to Russian sport and its sponsorship of the Russian ice hockey team.

"In partnership with Ingosstrakh the Russian Ice Hockey Federation are supporting veterans and encouraging youth development in hockey in general and, therefore, the health of the nation.

"Our joint work will hopefully support our future Olympic teams as well as our teams for Sochi 2014.

"On behalf of myself and of the millions of Russian sports fans, I would like to thank Ingosstrakh and congratulate the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee on making the right choice."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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