By Richard Allen Greene
(CNN) — The 22nd Winter Olympic Games open in Sochi, Russia, in less than a month. Here’s a look at some key facts and figures related to what appears will be among the most expensive Olympics ever.
Cost: At least $50 billion, including infrastructure work in and around Sochi
Athletes: 6,000 from 85 countries (plus 1,650 Paralympians from 45 countries)
Sports: 15
Number of events: 89 — of which 12 are new
Number of police officers deployed for the Games: 25,000, plus 8,000 security forces from other agencies
Number of U.S. athletes, coaches, staff and guests who have booked the services of crisis response company Global Rescue in case of emergency: 375
Days of competition: 17, plus the Opening Ceremony
Time the Opening Ceremony begins: 20:14 local time
Number of signatures on a petition by gay rights group All Out calling on Russia to eliminate “anti-gay laws,” violence and discrimination against gay people: 404,139 as of November 5, 2013
Amount of borscht (beet soup) expected to be prepared and served during the games: 265,000 liters (70,000 U.S. gallons)
Average price of lunch for one at the Olympic Park: $15
Number of chefs, sous-chefs, cooks, waiters, bartenders and cashiers working the games: 7,000
Average temperature in Sochi in February: 8.3 Celsius (47 Fahrenheit) — the warmest ever at Winter Olympics
Number of people the Olympic Park holds: 75,000
Number of volunteers helping with the Games: 25,000
Distance the Olympic torch will travel to the Games: 40,000 kilometers (nearly 25,000 miles), including into space, over 123 days
Expected television audience: 3 billion
Sources: CNN, Sochi Winter Olympic Games organizing committee, IHS Jane’s Intelligence Review, Reuters
CNN’s Tom Bouchier Hayes and Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report.
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