Members of the Committee, led by IIHF vice-president Kalervo Kummola, visited a number of Olympic venues, including the ice dome, during the trip.

IIHF Facility Committee secretary Cornelia Ljungberg labelled the ice dome (pictured) "amazing".

"It was half-done, there's still work to do on the inside, but on the outside it looks quite ready and the plaza in front was impressive," she enthused.

"This was a very encouraging visit as we are very confident that not only will everything be ready for the Olympics, but the main hockey venue will be ready [for hockey] one year ahead of the Olympic tournament," said Kummola.

The 12,000-capacity ice dome is set to be ready for operation by September.


Located within the cluster of venues by Sochi's picturesque Black Sea coastline, the ice dome is designed so that externally it resembles a giant frozen water droplet.

It will stage two test events: the Euro Hockey Tour in December, and the IIHF Ice Hockey Under-18 World Championships next April.

Once completed the ice dome will serve as a multi-purpose sports venue following the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The IIHF will operate the Bolshoi Ice Dome, the Maly Ice Palace – where some ice hockey and ice sledge hockey will take place – and a training rink.

Building work on all sports venues for the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Games is scheduled for completion by the end of 2012 as activity continues at what organisers have dubbed the largest construction site in the world.

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