Organizers of the Sochi Olympics have one thought on their collective mind – how to make the participants, families and spectators feel at home, in a country most have never visited and fewer still can speak the language.

Recently a translation forum was held in Russia to address just that issue – the language barrier. More than 650 translators, students, interpreters and linguist professors attended the forum and learned just what the task will take to accomplish and accomplish it successfully.

Organizers say that more than 1000 interpreters will be on hand at the 2014 Winter Games to assist all those new to the country.

“We’re aiming to provide the warmest welcome possible when we welcome the world to Sochi and speak the same language as our Olympic and Paralympic guests, so the Forum helped us to reach this goal,” said organizing committee president Dmitry Chernyshenko.

This forum was the first of its kind held in relation to an Olympic event setting a historical marker for the Olympic Games.

In attendance at the forum was Wilhelm Weber the 2012 chief interpreter, Sochi language services advisor Maureen Sweeney and Pyeong Chang the 2018 planning services director.

The Olympic Games in Sochi will call on both volunteers and professionals to make up the huge language workforce and it looks like it will be an incredible undertaking with 5,500 athletes and some 13,000 journalists in attendance; this is not even considering the millions of spectators.

Looks like it is time for athletes and families to hit the books and learn a little bit of Russian. However, do not be too concerned if you do not, there will be help available.