Russia eyes 2014 with London winter wonderland

Inside, endless touchscreens and posters hammer home themessage that the Sochi is on track for the Olympics opening ceremony onFebruary 7, 2014. In January, Russia's then president Dmitry Medvedevpersonally intervened amid reports that several Olympic venues were behindschedule. And last year Taimuraz Bolloyev, the head of Olympstroy, the companyresponsible for Sochi's $12 billion construction programme, resigned amidclaims of corruption. The Russian government has relied on donations from the country'srichest tycoons to fund a large part of the construction, but the privatefinancing has led to an apparent lack of organisation at the many constructionsites.

"It's really neat that they're introducing the nextsite at the current Games, because I don't know that everyone's familiar withSochi," said Californian Stephanie Smith, after posing for photos in abobsleigh. "We've been looking at all the technology they'll beimplementing and it seems very cool," added Smith, who decided to fly overfor the London Olympics last week on a whim. "We think Russia in thewinter might be a bit cold for us. We might die if we go to Russia!" herfriend Margaret Tovar shivered.