Olympics 2014: The long road to Sochi’s Winter Games

by @benpiven February 6, 2014 7:00AM ET

From winning the host city bid in 2007 to infrastructure construction, security fears and controversies over gay rights

Topics:
Sochi 2014
Olympics
Sports

The XXII Olympic Winter Games will take place in Sochi, Russia, from Feb. 7 to 23. An estimated 2,500 athletes from 88 nations will compete at 98 events for 15 different sports. Seven of the countries are making their Olympic debuts.

Sochi has a subtropical climate and is a popular resort destination known as the Russian Riviera. Situated between the Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea, the warmest-ever Winter Games host city has pleasant February temperatures that average in the 40s Fahrenheit. But security concerns and protests over government laws against gay athletes threaten to plague the games, which begin with the opening ceremony on Friday. 

Browse the timeline above for more on the journey to Sochi.