With just more than 14 months to go before the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics, organizers said that "they are on track to deliver all the venues, with some works concluded ahead of schedule," according to RUSSIA TODAY. Built from scratch, along with the supporting infrastructure, "the Olympic park is now looking more like the final product than ever." The Iceberg Skating Palace will "go on trial" when it welcomes the Figure Skating Grand Prix Finale on Dec. 6-9. The Bolshoi Ice Dome and adjacent Shaiba Arena will host Olympic ice hockey matches, "with the final touches underway at both spots as they also prepare for major int'l test events" in early '13. Construction supervisor Murat Ahmadiev said, "This three-year construction will soon be over. Right now, we are in the process of laying down the asphalt and applying the finishing touches." Officials "are now putting the final sheen on the Adler Arena," which will become home to the speed skaters. Its first competition is also scheduled for early '13 (RT, 11/26).
