03 March 2010, 23:00
Pakhomov obliges all Sochi residents involved in Olympic preparations to learn English
In Sochi, by Olympiad-2014, every interested person can learn English free of charge. This was announced at today's press conference by Sochi Mayor Anatoly Pakhomov.
According to his version, "the target programme 'Sochi - Hospitable City' has funds enabling townspeople to study English on the free-of-charge basis." "Besides, additional funds to this end will be assumed in the city budget," Mr Pakhomov has added.
As emphasized by the head of Sochi, every citizen should know English, and at a worthy level. "Illiteracy in English of the residents who will welcome the Olympiad is humiliating," the "Interfax" quotes the Mayor.
However, while for an ordinary Sochi resident it is, more likely, an advice, and studying English will be voluntary, for those townspeople who will be directly involved in preparing and servicing the Olympiad - volunteers and attendants - it is a tough requirement.
As to the Mayor of Sochi himself, he is already studying English. "Now, I miss it quite a lot, but I'll for sure learn it to perfection," the "Gazeta.Ru" quotes Mayor Pakhomov.
Besides, he told at today's press conference that in June Sochi will open the Olympic Museum to collect the belongings and awards of Olympic athletes, the "Yuga.Ru" reports.
"Our museum will be a branch of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne," said the Mayor, who has just come back from Vancouver, where he visited a similar Canadian museum.
