Medvedev says Sochi Olympics venues ready for Games

Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (L), accompanied by Oleg Deripaska, Russian billionaire and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Basic Element company, inspects the Olympic Village at the coastal cluster of the Sochi 2014 winter Olympics in Sochi, December 16, 2013.  [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW - Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Monday that most of the Olympic venues in Sochi were ready for the Games.

"The absolute majority of the venues are ready in both mountain and coastal clusters," Medvedev told a meeting in that Black Sea resort city.

"The conditions there are so good that the organizers of the next Olympics will have difficulties to repeat them," Medvedev said after inspecting the Olympic villages' residential complex.

He also demanded that Sochi to remain comfortable and modern for both residents and visitors after the Games were concluded.

The residential property will be sold on a free housing market after the Games, the government said.

Also on Monday, Medvedev signed the rules of visitors conduct during sports events which will take effect on January 20, 2014.

About 6,000 members of delegations, including 3,000 athletes, are expected to take part in the Sochi Games, according to the head of the Sochi 2014 steering committee Dmitry Chernyshenko.

The 22nd Winter Olympic Games are slated for February 7-23, 2014, with 98 sets of medals to be contested.