From the moment that the flame was extinguished during the closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, the focus of the winter sports world turned to a small, yet modern Russian resort town on the Black Sea: Sochi. Sochi will be the host of the XXII Winter Olympic Games in 2014, and when it comes to the winter Olympics Russia knows a little bit about success. Since they first participated as the Soviet Union in 1956, Russian athletes have found a home on the podium taking home gold, silver and bronze medals in many events.

The First Winter Olympics Russia Has Hosted

Despite their long and illustrious winter sports traditions the 2014 games with be the first winter Olympics Russia has ever hosted. Though Moscow hosted the Summer Games in 1980, no Russian city had ever even been in the final IOC voting for the Winter Games. This means that Sochi has a lot on it’s shoulders, but if early results  is anything go on Sochi is a more than worthy host.

Since defeating PyeongChang, South Korea and Salzburg, Austria for the right to host the games in 2007, Sochi has been working hard to complete venues ahead of schedule. While opening venues in time for the games typically becomes an issue, Sochi has made a point of getting it all done early so that the only drama that occurs in regards to the venues is the competition that occurs inside of them.

One much heralded decision that the Sochi organizing committee made in relation to the games is the placement of the venues. While some might think that a lot of travel would be involved in a  Winter Olympics Russian officials wanted to go the opposite direction. All venues in Sochi will be within walking distance of each other at Sochi Olympic Park. This means that visitors will be conveniently able to walk between the two hockey arenas, the speed skating venue, figure skating hall, curling centre, Olympic Stadium, Olympic village and media center. In addition, the skiing and track events will all take place in a similarly small area at the resort town of Krasnaya Polyana.

The 2014 Winter games in Russia looks to be one of the premier sporting events the world has seen. And why wouldn’t it be? In the winter Olympics Russia has always been a dominate force. This is their chance to show them that they aren’t just dominating on the field, but also in planning and execution.