Dmitry Chernyshenko, President of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, presented the honorary Sochi 2014 ambassador diploma to the choir on the scene of the Kremlin Grand Palace during the concert dedicated to the Choir’s anniversary. Dmitry Chernyshenko also presented a big dozen-doll Matryoshka to the Choir which is one of the first products of the Sochi 2014 licence program.

Viktor Zakharchenko, Artistic Director of the Kuban Cossack Choir, said:

"We thank the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee for the honour of joining the large and close family of Sochi 2014 ambassadors. It is essential that in 2014 we greet all the guests and athletes of Kuban not just with traditional “bread and salt”, but also with songs. I am convinced that our work will reflect the best of Russia’s multinational culture not least because our Kuban Cossack Choir has performed folk songs for 200 years now!"

Dmitry Chernyshenko, President of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, commented:

"The Kuban Cossack Choir has long been part of various Sochi 2014 projects. The Choir has supported us since 2007 when the Sochi 2014 bid won in Guatemala. The Choir’s interpretation of the Sochi 2014 hymn enchanted everyone during the Vancouver Games! The Kuban Cossack Choir has been actively participating in the Sochi 2014 Cultural Olympiad project, the Olympiad’s audience to reach more than a million people by the end of this year. That’s why it is absolutely logical that this collective which is celebrating its bicentenary this year has entered the Sochi 2014 ambassadors’ team”.

Notes for the editor

The State Academic Kuban Cossack Choir is the oldest and largest national Cossack collective in Russia, it was founded in 1811. Its repertoire includes not only Kuban Cossack, but also Russian and Ukrainian folk songs. The artistic director and chief conductor of the choir is Viktor Zakharchenko, People's Artist of Russia.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, President of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, presented the honorary Sochi 2014 ambassador diploma