IOC panel in Sochi for check on 2014 preparations

Associated Press
Sochi 2014 Olympic Games organizing committee president Dmitry Chernyshenko, left, presents a map of the Olympic Torch relay, in Moscow, Russia, on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. The relay for Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics will start on Oct. 7, 2013 and the flame will be taken through 84 cities of Russia and finish in Sochi. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

SOCHI, Russia (AP) — With the opening of the 2014 Winter Olympics less than 500 days away, IOC officials are back in Russia to check on preparations in Sochi.

The IOC coordination commission began a three-day visit to the Black Sea resort Tuesday to inspect progress in construction, transportation, accommodation and other key areas.

The IOC panel headed by French ski great Jean-Claude Killy last visited Sochi in February.

The IOC says the commission will tour some of the mountain venues, including the national sliding center and ski jump, cross-country and biathlon sites.

The visit comes two days after Sochi organizers announced the route of the Olympic torch relay, the longest in Winter Games history covering 40,000 miles.

A news conference will be held Thursday.