By David Gold

Sochi 2014_ski_jumpJanuary 31 - The Russian Cup, which was due to be the first ski jump test event for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, has been postponed as facilities are not yet ready.


The Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti has reported that the comeptition has been moved to another city whilst Sochi will test its ski jumping facilities with another competition.

A series of Sochi 2014 test events are set to take place in February, including the Alpine World Cup and European Cup snowboard, whilst a biathlon competition is closed to the public due to construction delays.

The Russian Cup was meant to take place from February 12-17, but RIA Novosti quoted the Russian Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Federation President Alexander Uvarov as saying that "there will be no test competitions in Sochi from the 12th to 17th."

"The test events in Sochi remain in our plans," he added.

"The question is about when they will be held, and this will be decided by an Interdepartmental Commission."

Sochi 2014 have not yet made any official comment on the cancellation of the event.

Last week it was revealed that the test event for the biathlon on the crests and slopes of Psekhako Ridge in Krasnaya Polyana between February 6 and 10 will take place behind closed doors because of construction delays.

The Russian National Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Training Centre is located in the village of Esto-Sadok on the northern slope of the Aibga Ridge and integrates the most up-to-date Olympic ski jumps К-95 and К-125.

The area has been specially selected so that competitors, who will include women in the Olympics for the first, will be protected from side winds and so that the ski jumps would blend into the landscape.

This facility with capacity of 9,600 seats and, according to Sochi's own website, was due to open for test events in 2011.

Their preparations for the Games have recently been hit by claims construction delays, with up to 70 venues behind schedule, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak admitted at the Winter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck earlier this month.

He defended the preparations though and insisted that the majority of delays were due to administrative issues.

The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Coordination Commission are due to arrive in Sochi in just under a fortnight for their latest evaluation of their preparations for the Winter Olympics.

Sochi was given a glowing report on the last IOC visit in September 2011, though they may struggle to live up to those high standards given the recent delays.

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