'Friendship and Comfort': Military Athletes from NATO Countries Compete in Sochi

“I think that our visit here is sort of an affront to the anti-Russian sanctions. We are here, period. I like the atmosphere of friendship and comfort we are enjoying here,” Vidmar said, adding that it was already her fourth trip to Russia.

She believes that the competition’s motto “Friendship Through Sport” is really working.

“Russia is a big country and I believe that Slovenia and Russia should be friends. Slovenia is a small country, but I’m sure that we’ll only benefit from cooperating with Russia,” she noted.

Maja Vidmar heaped praise on the climbing wall that was built in Sochi for the Games.

“Overall, the tournament is very well organized,” she said.

More than 400 military athletes from over 40 countries are taking part in the Games in Sochi, the host of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

The Third Winter Military Games are organized by the International Military Sports Council (CISM), a major sports organization ranked third after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International University Sports Federation.

Russia won the bid to host the games at the 70th CISM General Assembly in Kuwait in May 2015.

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