With two more days until the 2014 Winter Olympic Games kick off in Sochi, Russia, it’s time to familiarize yourself with the new Olympic venues! Sochi 2014 has already become the most expensive Olympic Games in history, racking up a bill of more than $50 billion. The original budget for the Games was set at $12 billion in 2007 by Russian President Vladimir Putin, but as the years passed and construction for the games moved forth, the price tag grew larger. Part of the $50 billion was spent on the construction of 11 new Olympic venues, each with their own hefty price tag. Regardless of how much was spent, the venues will offer an impressive backdrop as athletes compete for the gold throughout the duration of the Games. Read on to learn about the construction of the venues and to see what makes each of them unique!
The Costal Cluster
Above is a GIF illustrating the construction of the Coastal Cluster in Sochi. Watch as the lot morphs from empty land into what’s now known as the Sochi Olympic Park and Olympic Village.
Fisht Olympic Stadium
The Fisht Olympic Stadium can hold 40,000 people and took $603 million to build! The opening and closing ceremonies of Sochi 2014 will take place here. The facade of the venue was inspired by the famous Russian Fabergé eggs. After the Winter Olympics, it will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Iceberg Skating Palace
The Iceberg Skating Palace cost $43.9 million to build and will host the short track speed skating and figure skating events. The outside of the venue was designed to reflect the way an ice skater’s body moves while executing a triple toe loop. The Iceberg Skating Palace is able to seat 12,000 people.
Shayba Arena
After the games, this 7,000-seat venue will be disassembled and then relocated to a different Russian city. Shayba Arena will host the ice hockey events, which is fitting since “shayba” means “hockey puck” in Russian!
Bolshoy Ice Dome
The Bolshoy Ice Dome will also host the ice hockey events, but unlike Shayba Arena, it can seat up to 12,000 people. Preliminary ice hockey games will take place in this venue as well as the final games in which medals are awarded. The outside of Bolshoy Ice Dome was designed to resemble a water droplet.
Ice Cube Curling Center
The $14 million Ice Cube Curling Center will host the curling events for Sochi 2014. With its smooth exterior, the 3,000-seat venue is meant to stand as a symbol for democracy and accessibility. It’s also suppose to resemble a curling stone!
Adler Arena
The Adler Arena will seat up to 8,000 speed skating spectators. With large glass walls, the arena was built so that spectators can appreciate the Sochi views that surround them. The Adler Arena cost more than $32 million to build. The oval-shaped venue is intended to resemble an ice fault.
Mountain Cluster
Hop on a bus and take a trip up to the Mountain Cluster of the Winter Olympics, where events such as alpine skiing, luge and snowboarding will take place. Here, in the snowcapped mountains of Krasnaya Polyana, sit five new Olympic venues along with the Mountain Cluster Olympic Village.
Laura Cross-Country Ski & Biathlon Center
The Laura Cross-Country Ski & Biathlon Center will host the biathlon and cross-country skiing events. Its bleachers seat 7,500 spectators. The name of the venue comes from a raging river in the Caucasian mountains.
RusSki Gorki Jumping Center
According to The New York Times, the RusSki Gorki Jumping Center took $265 million to build, making it six times over the budget. If you’re afraid of heights, then this image, taken from the top of the Olympic ski jump, might make your palms sweat. The venue can seat 7,500 spectators.
Rosa Khutor Extreme Park
Snowboarding and freestyle skiing will take place at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. As a permanent venue, the center will host other competitions long after Sochi 2014 comes to a close. It seats 4,000 to 6,250 specators depending on the event.
Rosa Khutor Alpine Center
The 7,500-person Rosa Khutor Alpine Center will host alpine skiing events. Its tracks measure 20 km in distance. After Sochi 2014, it will become a ski resort open to the public.
Sanki Sliding Center
The $4 million Sanki Sliding Center will host the bobsled, luge and skeleton events. The venue can seat 5,000 spectators along its 1.5-km track. The official Olympic website says that track has 18 corners and a vertical drop of 131.9 meters.
Which Olymic venue are you most impressed by? Let us know in the comments and then keep following Sochi Scoop to keep updated on all things Sochi 2014. Just two more days until the Games begin!