The highlight of the Commission's fifth visit to the Russian resort on the Black Sea was seeing the advances being made on the sites of the Alpine skiing and the sliding track.

Sochi last month held its first test event, a European Cup alpine ski event.

"Once again, we've seen great progress during our visit to Sochi," said Killy.

"I was privileged to be able to attend the very impressive first test event held here last month.

"It allowed the Games organisers to learn many lessons for the future, and we can see these already being integrated into their planning.

"On the construction front, the initial vision for the transformation of the region is starting to materialise, with infrastructure and venues rapidly rising from the ground.

"The mascots have been selected, and planning is reaching a new level of detail.

"Sochi 2014 is starting to bring its Games vision to life, and is delivering on the legacy of improving the living conditions in the region through bringing infrastructural and environmental improvements."

Killy also praised the compactness of the Games venues.

"It is with great satisfaction that we saw how compact these Games will be, thanks to the efforts that have been made to scale them down and bring all the venues into a very condensed area in the mountain cluster," he said.

"This has helped from a financial standpoint, and will also facilitate the operations for athletes and spectators alike.

"The Games are fundamentally about sport, but they are also about construction, transformation and legacy, and those four elements are starting to take shape quite nicely now.

"I have no doubt that Sochi 2014 will deliver a fantastic Olympic experience for all those attending the Games."

But the Commission did identify four priorities that need to be addressed, including recruiting and training the workforce for the Games and the relocation of key staff from Moscow to Sochi. 

Sochi 2014 were also warned that they needed to do more planning to ensure the success of the transport system during the Games. 

"We have made significant steps forward across all areas, including construction, environmental, legacy and commercial aspects in our preparations for the Games. I am delighted to be able to say that, with just under three years to go until the Games, 40 per cent of the planned construction work on the Sochi 2014 venues is complete," said Dmitry Chernyshenko (pictured), the President and chief executive of Sochi 2014.

"I am convinced that Sochi 2014 will leave an incredible legacy for tomorrow and is already delivering a legacy today, benefitting the Olympic Movement, the Russian people and the wider world. Much of that legacy is to be found in our commitment to innovation across all Sochi 2014 activity.

"For example, new, innovative construction standards are being implemented in Sochi now and we are already setting new standards in environmental protection.

"Sochi 2014 is also acting as a catalyst for the development of a barrier-free environment and will change the attitude of our society towards people with a disability.

"The Games is already a catalyst for pioneering the development of a volunteering culture in Russia. Our country is already experiencing this legacy as a direct result of the Sochi 2014 Volunteer Programme".

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]