Sochi Olympics Project
Award
$600,000
Winner
Alexander Zolotarev
Organization
City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism
Location
Summary
The people of Sochi, the Russian resort city hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics, will be able to use the latest online tools to both discuss and influence the impact of the games. A web site and database will allow the community to track and debate how the plans are changing life there over a five-year period. The idea is to help residents better prepare for the Olympics, to inform the media about the city’s issues and to use discussions about the games as a way to improve life in Sochi.
Winner Bio
Alexander Zolotarev is a Fulbright Scholar at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism, where he conducts research for his Ph.D. in citizen journalism and online communities. He will soon defend his dissertation at the Moscow State University Faculty of Journalism. After writing a Russian travel guide to Norway at 21, Zolotarev worked as an editor at several magazines, including Harvard Business Review and National Geographic Traveler. He has consistently been involved in projects on pop culture and entertainment, including the launch of the IMAX Theatre in Moscow.