The Vancouver 2010 bronze medallist, and former world and European champion, who is also a Sochi 2014 ambassador, welcomed the first visitors to the centre in the Russian capital, which is where tickets can be both bought and collected.

Sochi 2014 launched its second phase of ticket sale last month, with entrance to events costing as little as 350 rubles (£6.70/$10.80/€8).

Oksana Domnina won bronze with Maxim Shabalin at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics ©AFP/Getty Images



Customers collecting tickets will need to bring with them a print out of their order approval, the Visa card used to pay and their passport.

Non-Russian residents can still buy tickets through their National Olympic and Paralympic Committees or via an Authorised Ticket Reseller, while online sales directly through the Sochi 2014 website are available in some nations.

All ticketholders are also required to hold a Spectator Pass, which, along with their ticket, will allow them to gain entry to the event.

The Sochi 2014 ticket centres proved popular on the open day ©Sochi 2014



It is hoped that this move will help minimise queues at venues during the Games.

Additional ticket centres will open at Games venues during Sochi 2014, while the offices will be open seven days a week and will remain open until the end of next year's Paralympics on March 16.

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