The Olympics Council approved to have the rail and highway links for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics reduced, which is said to ease the impact on the environment. Proposed by the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, these changes were introduced in order to regain cordial relations with environmentalists who have been criticising the negative effects the Olympics events would be having on the environment. 

While the light-rail system that links the venues would have one track instead of two, the highway that connects the sites will also be reduced from four lanes to three.

Likewise, the snow sports will be held near a nature conservation area within the delicate ecological mountaineous region. These decisions, which were made at a meeting where Jean-Claude Killy, the head of the IOC panel that is monitoring the preparations for the Sochi Olympics and Gilbert Felli, the IOC Olympic Games executive director. It is believed that this would enhance efficiency in planning, design and construction of the Sochi 2014 project.

It must be noted; however, that these new changes will not only be beneficial for the visitors who will flock in for the Winter Olympics, but should also prove to be a boon for the local residents too.