In a little over two years, Russia's first-ever Winter Olympics will be held in Sochi. President Dmitry Medvedev has requested contractors to be sure that the new venues are ready in time for major test events due to start next month.

Medvedev inspected the sites on Thursday evening, including the Roza Khutor ski resort. It is set to host a World Cup leg on the Alpine skiing circuit in just over a month's time, with snowboarding and freestyle events scheduled a month later.

Russia's second bobsled track will also be unveiled in late February. Almost 70% of all construction work for the games has been completed, according to officials. However, Medvedev emphasized that work rates “differ because of problems with financing and some other problems, including design and, in some cases, simply bad management."

The President also mentioned that after the Olympic Games are over, the infrastructure will improve the quality of life for those who live in and around Sochi.