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With a year to go before the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the Russian organizers are seeking to complete one of the world's largest construction projects. MIKHAIL MORDASOV/AFP/Getty Images
This picture, taken on January 23, 2013, gives an indication of the size of the 40,000-capacity "Fisht" Olympic Stadium that will host the opening and closing ceremonies. MIKHAIL MORDASOV/AFP/Getty Images
The total cost is expected to top $50 billion, with much of the infrastructure being built from scratch. This picture taken on January 24 shows a view of a new hotel constructed near a railway station between Adler and Krasnaya Polyana Olympic venues in the Caucasus Mountains. MIKHAIL MORDASOV/AFP/Getty Images
Down in the city itself, work is still being completed outside the "Iceberg" Skating Palace -- seen here on January 22. MIKHAIL MORDASOV/AFP/Getty Images
A high-speed rail line will link the mountain venues with the seaside stadiums, a journey expected to take 45 minutes. "You can go to downhill alpine skiing events in the morning and watch track and figure skating in the evening," U.S. Olympic Committee official Patrick Sandusky told CNN. MIKHAIL MORDASOV/AFP/Getty Images
Speed skating is one of the Olympic sports that has already held test events, despite outer parts of the venue still being under construction. MIKHAIL MORDASOV/AFP/Getty Images
Former World Cup alpine skiing champion Ivica Kostelic blamed the course setup after injuring his knee on the way to victory at a test event at the Rosa Khutor mountain venue in February 2012. OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images
The "RusSki Gorki" Jumping Center at the Krasnaya Polyana resort will host ski jumping and Nordic combined competitions, and has already held test events. SERGEI KARPUKHIN/AFP/Getty Images
The shooting range will be used in the biathlon competitions. It hosted test events in late January 2013. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images
The Bolshoi Ice Dome will host some of the ice hockey events. MIKHAIL MORDASOV/AFP/Getty Images/file
Americans Charlie White and Meryl Davis triumphed in the figure skating Grand Prix Final held at Sochi's Iceberg Skating Palace in December 2012. ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images/file
Russia's sports-loving president Vladimir Putin was a guest at the figure skating. "They're putting in a lot of effort to make sure it will come off correctly, and Vladimir Putin showing up is a good sign about how important it is and how much they care," White told CNN. ALEXEI NIKOLSKY/AFP/Getty Images/file
"A lot of the things weren't finished, but they had done an amazing job on the rink, with the signs, the locker rooms," White said. "It's well placed, easy to get to, and the warmup area is well equipped." KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images
The older, traditional buildings of the Black Sea resort are now being surrounded by more modern structures. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images
This aerial picture taken on May 18, 2012, shows a general view of the construction area of the Olympic Park. MIKHAIL MORDASOV/AFP/Getty Images
