The Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee’s bid to protect licensed products with marks of the Winter Games in Sochi will be supported by major retailers operating in Russia, the official website of Sochi OCOG reported on May 4.

Companies of X5 Retail Group, OOO “AUCHAN”, retail chain “Magnit”, “O'Key” Group of Companies, OAO “Sedmoy Kontinent”, ZAO “SPAR Retail”, and retail chains for children’s goods “Grand Toys” Group of Companies, OAO “Detskiy Mir -Tsentr” and OOO “Korablik-R” have signed a declaration in support of complying with the correct use of Olympics and Paralympics marks.

The retailers that joined the Declaration will ensure that counterfeit souvenirs and other goods with the Olympic rings and other symbols of the Games do not end up on the stores’ shelves.

Support for the Declaration by the largest retail players will contribute to a more effective response to the proliferation of counterfeit products in retail chains and help the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee fulfill obligations to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in protecting the Olympic and Paralympics marks.

President and CEO of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko, noted: “The fact that leading Russian retailers have supported our initiative to protect Sochi 2014 licensed products is a hugely significant step. Market leaders signing the Declaration not only show their commitment to adhere to recognized global standards of business practice, but also expresses the wish of these companies to contribute to the first Winter Games in the history of our country.”