体坛英语新闻：Sochi launches daily communication preparation for Winter Olympics

MOSCOW, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The "Word of the Day" project kicked off Monday in the southern Russian city of Sochi in a bid to make the citizens engaged in a good preparation for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

"The project is designed to help people to start speaking English and learn basic phrases necessary for everyday communication," Olga Medvedeva, the head of Sochi education department, was quoted as saying by the Itar-Tass news agency.

Medvedeva said the residents of Sochi would be offered with 662 English words and phrases till the opening of Winter Olympics in public places as well as be broadcast on public transport. Local media also joined the program of teaching English in an accessible and graphic manner.

The first phrase of the project "Welcome to Sochi" has appeared at cultural institutions and hospitals in the Black Sea city.

The Sochi authorities expected such project of teaching English would be a good approach for local people to improve their ability to communicate with foreign visitors coming to the Winter Olympic host city.

The Sochi Winter Olympics is scheduled from Feb. 7 to Feb. 23 in 2014.