Sochi buildup has been negative : security threats , gay - rights protests , corruption claims . But another issue appears : Russia 's need to forge a new identity through infrastructure . It 's fair to say that many Olympic locations in the Krasnaya Polyana region , such as the athletes ' village , the Gorki media center and the resort of Rosa Khutor , more closely resemble new towns than alpine sporting facilities . The much touted ` ` Ring of Steel '' around Moscow looks to be in place . ` ` Russia 's most expensive road '' is nothing short of an engineering marvel .
Sochi buildup has been negative : security threats , gay - rights protests , corruption claims . But another issue appears : Russia 's need to forge a new identity through infrastructure . The much touted ` ` Ring of Steel '' around Moscow looks to be in place . ` ` Russia 's most expensive road '' is nothing short of an engineering marvel .