Sochi has risen to prominence as the host of the 2014 Olympic Games, or more properly the XXII Olympic Winter Games. The games will cost Russia a projected $11 billion as they transform Sochi's surrounds into the most modern and compact Winter Olympic venue ever. The events will take place at two clusters, each featuring an Olympic village: Sochi Olympic Park is sited on the coast, while Krasnaya Polyana is 48km away in the mountains. The venues will be linked by a new railway line, with a journey time between the two of only 30 minutes. New events for the 2014 games include skiing halfpipe and slopestyle, snowboarding slopestyle, a mixed biathlon team relay, a figure skating team event and a luge team relay.

Date: 7 - 23 February 2014

Website: Sochi2014.ru