Russia chose one of its southernmost cities - subtropical Sochi - as its nominee for next year's Winter Olympics.
Sochi Olympics - Mountain Venues
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At the base of the brand new Rosa Khutor ski area, a faux Alpine village has been built in the last 1,000 days, complete with a German-style “Rathaus” or town hall. (V. Undritz for VOA)
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Visitors study the ski trail map of Rosa Khutor, which suffered from erratic snow cover and rain in February and March of this year. (V. Undritz for VOA)
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A brand new European-made gondola carries skiers to upper slopes. (V. Undritz for VOA)
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Poor weather – high winds and lack of snow – forced organizers to cancel a cross country event. (V. Undritz for VOA)