Olympic gold medallist and Russian Cross-Country Ski Association President Yelena Välbe visited the North Pacific island, which was recently hit by Typhoon Halong, to see if its slopes were suitable for athletes to train on.

"I assume that we will lead the preparation of athletes here, on Sakhalin," she said.

"From here, we will leave for the Olympics.

"Our time zone is close to that in South Korea.

"The climate is suitable as well.

"Thus, everything stands in favour for Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk."

Alexander Legkov claimed Russia's only gold cross-country skiing medal, in the 50km freestyle, at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics ©Getty Images


Members of the Russian national team will now visit Sakhalin in the winter to test its ski tracks.

Authorities on the island are also planning to promote winter sports, such as Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, biathlon and ski jumping, in the region.

The area's 30 and 40-metre ski jumping tracks were recently restored using funds from the local budget, while a 70m jumping track with lighting, modern ski lifts and a snowmaking system is due to open later this year.

The region is also expecting to receive funds from the federal budget to build a biathlon complex and a 120m jumping track by 2016.

As the host nation of this year's Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia claimed five medals in the cross-country skiing competitions, including one gold, three silver and one bronze.

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