Sochi 2014: Olympic venue guide

5 February 2014

The 2014 Winter Olympics are set to take place across 11 different arenas in and around Russia's southern coastal city of Sochi. Events will be held in two clusters of venues; the Olympic Park constructed in the Imeretinsky Valley on the Black Sea; and the nearby mountain resort of Krasnaya Polyana.

Don't know your Ice Cube from your Iceberg or your Fisht from your Shayba? Then explore our guide to the Olympic venues below.

INTERACTIVE

1. Adler & Iceberg

2. Ice Cube

3. Bolshoy Dome

4. Shayba Arena

5. Fisht Stadium

6. Mountain sites

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1. Adler Arena and Iceberg Skating Palace
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Speed and figure skating, capacities 8,000 and 12,000

The Adler Arena has been designed to look like an ice fault, with angular walls and triangular stained-glass windows. It will an exhibition center after the Olympics are over. Meanwhile, the curves of the Iceberg Skating Palace are intended to reflect the movements of a figure skater. It will take organisers two hours to adjust the ice at the Iceberg when switching from figure skating to short track speed skating events.
2. Ice Cube Curling Centre
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Curling, 3,000 capacity

The Ice Cube Curling Centre has smooth contours, intended to represent the shape of the curling stone. It is the smallest venue in the Olympic Park.
3. Bolshoi Ice Dome
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Ice hockey, 12,000 capacity

The Bolshoi Ice Dome represents a frozen water droplet. The word bolshoi means “major”, reflecting the importance of ice hockey at the Games. The dome will serve as a sports arena and concert venue after the Olympics.
4. Shayba Arena
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Ice hockey, 7,000 capacity

The Shayba Arena is named after the Russian word for puck and a symbolic puck was placed in its foundations as it was being built. The arena was built so it could be dismantled and transported to another Russian city after the Olympics and Paralympics. The blue and white swirling design on the building’s exterior represents a snowdrift.
5. Fisht Olympic Stadium
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Opening and closing ceremonies, 40,000 capacity

The Fisht Olympic stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The stadium, named after the nearby Mount Fisht in the western Caucasus Mountains, was inspired by the design of Russia’s famous Faberge eggs. It was going to have an open roof, but plans were changed because of concerns that the unreliable weather in Sochi might damage lighting and sound equipment in the opening ceremony. The stadium now has a translucent polycarbonate roof.
6. Mountain venues
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Various sports, including skiing and bobsleigh

Resorts around the village of Krasnaya Polyana will play host to a number of Olympic events, including ski jumping, snowboarding, freestyle, cross-country and Alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, skeleton and luge. The biggest venue is the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, which will host snowboarding and freestyle skiing. The 1.2km ski-cross track features a 213m vertical drop.