SOCHI, November 8, 2012 - Journalists covering the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia will benefit from free Wifi in all media areas for the first time at an Olympics.

The decision to give free Internet access to the media was announced by Dmitry Chernyshenko, president of the Sochi organising committee, at the World Press Briefing on Thursday.

Wifi will be available in all areas used by the media including the MPC, venues, mixed zones and accommodation. It will give journalists free access to the Games Info system.

Members of the media who need a more robust service than can be provided by wifi will be able to buy a package costing 125 US dollars for cabled access at the MPC and venues.

More than 200 representatives of the world's media attended the World Press Briefing held in the Black Sea resort from November 6-9. They toured the two venue clusters being built - the Coastal cluster at Adler, around 35 kms from the city of Sochi, on the Black Sea where the ice events are being staged and the mountain cluster at Krasnaya Polyana around 50kms away where the snow competitions will take place.

All the venues have been built from scratch and new road and rail links connecting the two clusters are being constructed. Test events will be held at most events in the coming winter.      The Games will open on February 7, 2014 and close on February 23. The Paralympics will follow from March 7 to March 16.

There will be a total of 98 events, 69 in the mountains and 29 on the coast. Among new events are a figure skating team competition, a biathlon mixed relay, a luge team relay and a new freestyle skiing event, the slopestyle for men and women.

Accommodation for the media will be at hotels close to the Olympic Park in Adler, which is also within easy range of Sochi airport, and in the mountain area which will also be close to all the venues.