Russian President Vladimir Putin opened a ski centre Tuesday that will be used at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
He told workers who built new ski lifts and other facilities at the complex in Krasnaya Polyana near Sochi, “this is the first sign of the preparations of Sochi as host of the 2014 Winter Olympics. I’m sure this will be done on schedule and with the same quality as this one”.
The ski area on the Psekhako Ridge now has 18 trails and six lifts including the gondola, and accommodation for more than 8,000, according to Vladimir Makarenkov, deputy director of an affiliate of OAO Gazprom, the state-controlled natural gas monopoly that funded the project.
Makarenkov said a ski stadium and other facilities, including more trails and lifts, are to be built on the 129-hectare site.
Cross country and biathlon events will take place at Psekhako Ridge, and alpine ski events will be held at Rosa Khutor, now under construction.
