The Russian Federation will be hosting XXII Olympic Winter Games (22nd Winter Olympics) for the first time (since the breakup of the USSR) from February 6 to 23, 2014 in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi, Russia. Soviet Union hosted 1980 Summer Games in Moscow, Russia. Sochi has a population of over 400,000 and located within Krasnodar, the third largest region in Russia. Games will be conducted within the general area including Krasnaya Polyana where mountain games will be held, Fisht Olympic Stadium and the Imeretinskaya Valley where all ice venues will be located. Games will include 98 events in 15 sports. Games will cost over $51 billion making it the most expensive Winter Olympics ever. A new Main Press Center which will be built within the games area will be a first for the games.
2014 Winter Olympic Games is not without controversy. The cost overruns and corruption allegations have been circulating since 2007 award of the games. The government adopted a new policy banning “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relation.” The area is located closer to Muslim separatist activities that are taking place in the region where many groups are conducting a war against the central government.