AOC: Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman has announced restrictions on Australian Olympic Team movement at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

The measures are based on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) warning for the Russia region.

“We know that the DFAT advice is to exercise a high degree of caution in Russia generally and in Sochi as well,” Chesterman explained.

“We think it is good practice to define what a degree of caution requires for our Olympic Team.”

Chesterman notified the first Australian athletes in Sochi of the following limitations today: the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has limited athletes to locations and attractions within the security perimeters of the Olympic Park Precinct (Coastal Cluster); and the Villages of Krasnaya Polyana, Esto-Sadok and Rosa Khutor above the transport filter at Esto-Sadok.

Team members are not permitted to travel to downtown Sochi or to Adler.

“We’ve chosen this area because we know it’s the most intense area of Russian security that’s been put in place,” Chesterman said.

"The transport between the venues is absolutely fine. The only restriction we put in, in terms of movement between the clusters, is that they use the official transport system."

While describing them as “some minor restrictions” on Team movement, Chesterman admitted the Australian contingent already in Sochi is very much at ease.

“We feel very comfortable coming here, everybody here has already experienced a level of security is in place - it's intense, but not heavy-handed.

"We know the International Olympic Committee has great confidence in the procedures and safety processes that have been put in place for these Games and we share that confidence. But we wanted to put some minor, but important, restrictions on our athlete movement during this period of time."

Chesterman also explained “this is not new to us,” and noted the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, USA were held just after September 11.

“Again, we feel this is a necessity given the safety environment we find ourselves in.”

As for the affects this may have on athletes, Chesterman assured the Australians they have a great Olympics ahead of them.

“I don’t think it will detract from the experience because the highlights of these Games are the regions they can still go to. It's where all the action will be. "

Australia will be represented by a record 60 athletes in Sochi. Read all of their profiles here >>

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