Organizing Committee of 2014 Winter Games to invite foreign specialists

A proposed federal bill may allow the Organizing Committee of the Winter Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi to invite foreign specialists, the Ministry for Regional Development said, Yuga.ru reports.

Involvement of high-skilled foreign specialists permitted only for commercial organizations or a set of non-commercial organizations (science, education, healthcare structures), according to article 13.2 of the federal law on legal status of foreign citizens.

Accredited branches of foreign legal bodies in Russia also have the right to hire foreign specialists to work in Russia. The Organizing Committee of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi does not include hiring of high-skilled foreign specialists.

Specialists of the Ministry for Regional Development say that the peculiarity of the games requires hiring some of the most high-skilled foreign staff. In certain cases only foreigners have the unique experience needed.

Point 3 of article 244 of the Russian Tax Code gives tax benefits for high-skilled foreign specialists. This would make organization and hosting of the Olympic Games more attractive for foreigners, RIA Novosti reports.

The changes would be temporary because the Organizing Committee will be disbanded in no earlier than 3 years after the end of the Paralympic Games.