In pictures: Preparations for the Sochi Winter Olympics

Russian soldiers rehearse the raising of flags at the finish line area of the Rosa Khutor Alpine Center (AAP)

A snowboarder in action during a training session at Sochi (AAP)

A worker walks between scaffolding at an Olympic site in Sochi. (AAP)

Workers prepare the landing slope of the NH ski jump at the Russki Gorki Jumping Center. Russia has spent around $58.5 billion on the Games including the long-term infrastructure investment in roads, tunnels, railways and hotels to turn Sochi into year-round resort. (AAP)

Military trucks and radar device are seen near a road heading to Olympic facilities. Security is a major concern at the February 7-23 games in Russia after two deadly December suicide attacks in the southern city of Volgograd. (Getty)

A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay shows the horsemen wearing traditional costumes of Russia's North Caucasus riding to welcome the Olympic flame in Maykop, the capital city of the Republic of Adygea. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history's longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions (AAP)

A snowboarder during training at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games (AAP)

Police stop a vehicle near the Gorki Media Centre in the Rosa Khutor Moutain Cluster. Security is a major concern and the US has placed two warships in the Black Sea to stand ready to offer assistance in the case of a security emergency at the massive sports event (Getty)

Workers sweep pathways in the Ekaterininskiy Kvartal media accomodation at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games.Critics allege that billions of dollars have disappeared in kickbacks and other corrupt deals but officials have dismissed these claims (AAP)

Olympic fans gather at the Rosa Khutor Live Site to catch the arrival of the Olympic Flame at Rosur Khutor (Getty)