The state-owned news agency RIA Novosti yesterday claimed that The Russian Cup was the test event and would be held in another city due to construction delays.

But Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak (pictured) insists that he has been assured Sochi's ski jumping facilities will be ready for a test event scheduled for next month.

"We are for the moment planning the test events for March 23," said Kozak.

"I can confirm that the investor has promised that the venue will be ready in time.

"The discussions we have had indicate that everything will be ready."

The Russian National Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Training Centre is located in the village of Esto-Sadok on the northern slope of the Aibga Ridge and integrates the most up-to-date Olympic ski jumps К-95 and К-125.

With a capacity of 9,600 seats, it was selected to ensure that competitors would not be affected by side winds during the Winter Olympics in two years' time, but according to Sochi's website it was due to open in 2011.


Kozak also recently admitted that there were delays with around 70 venues, though he insisted that these were mostly due to paperwork and administrative issues.

"Compared to last year, today everything is ready," he said.

"A year ago we successfully hosted a stage of the Europa Cup.

"Since then, construction has progressed significantly.

"We are ready to host top-level competitions."

Kozak also said the bobsleigh track would be ready and meet safety requirements by the autumn.

In total, some 15 test events are being carried out during the 2012-13 season, of which four are international.

The biathlon test event from February 6 to 10 in Krasnaya Polyana will take place behind closed doors because of construction delays, while the Alpine World Cup and Snowboard European Cup are also being held later this month.

In just under a fortnight the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Coordination Commission will also head to Sochi for their latest evaluation of the 2014 Winter Games preparations.

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