With just over two years to go until the Games in the Black Sea resort, organisation for the event is on track, with a Winter Olympic record $1.2 billion (£773 million/€920 million) raised in sponsorship from organisations such as Aeroflot, MegaFon and Rosneft.

Construction of venues is also on schedule, with two clusters – one in the mountains and one on the beach – promising spectacular backdrops for the Games.

Sochi 2014 President and chief executive Dmitry Chernyshenko (pictured above right) said: "All the team at the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee is immensely proud of what has been achieved in the past twelve months.

"While there is plenty more to accomplish, we are on track to deliver the most innovative and memorable Olympic and Paralympic Games in the history of the Olympic Movement.

"Today we are already seeing the results of our dedication to create a lasting legacy for Russia long after the Games is over.

"It includes improved infrastructure, changing attitudes towards people living with a disability in society and creating a volunteer culture in Russia.

"With the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games fast approaching next year, we're also confident that we will learn even more from our partners.

"We all agree 2012 will be a hugely exciting year for Olympic sport."


Sochi 2014 also launched the first ever Olympic and Paralympic mascots competition, with 1.4 million people voting, whilst the 1,000 Days to go celebrations saw hundreds of thousands of people involved in various festivities.

Twenty six educational institutions were also selected as volunteer training centres as Sochi 2014 look to deliver a legacy for the whole of Russia, with 25,000 volunteers required during the Games.

As part of the volunteer programme, the organisers of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games visited Sochi to meet 250 of its volunteers, selecting 100 to work at next summer's Olympics.

The Russian International Olympic University (RIOU) has also begun, bringing together a number of renowned speakers from the world of sport and the media.

Next year is set to be a key phase for Sochi 2014, with major test events taking place at the start of 2012, including the FIS Ski World Cup for both men and women and the FIS Snowboard Freestyle European Cup.

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