Speaking at a news conference during the ninth inspection visit of the International Olympic Committee's Coordination Commission, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak said that preparations for the Winter Olympics in Sochi are 85% complete.

Test competitions that were held during this season were successful. The very warm winter was the only problem, he said. As of today, 42 test competitions have been held, attended by a total of about 50,000 spectators as well as 4,500 athletes, coaches and other sports representatives.

Mr Kozak said that the Government is considering ways to curb the growth of air and train ticket prices to Sochi during the 2014 Olympics. The Federal Antimonopoly Service and the Federal Tariff Service are regularly involved in this. Now the goal is to analyse the price structure once again with a view to legally restraining the growth of fares.

This is the second to last visit of the commission. The 22nd Winter Olympics will take place in Sochi from 7 to 23 February 2014, followed by the 11th Paralympic Games on 7-16 March.