On the Scene in Sochi with IOC Coordination Commission

Guided by chairman Jean-Claude Killy, the IOC Coordination Commission opened its seventh trip to Sochi by attending the alpine ski racing test event on the Olympic course at Rosa Khutor.

Along with Olympic Games Executive Director Gibert Felli, the group attended the downhill portion of the men’s super combined race. They proceeded to tour the adjacent Snowboard Park and Freestyle Center as well as the future Olympic Sliding Center.

Felli noted that the purpose of the IOC visit was first observe the inaugural Alpine World Cup test event and also to review and assess all ongoing Sochi 2014 projects during two days of meetings. He also advised that they are hoping to finalize the specific sport and event schedule on the calendar for February 2014.

In regards to the alpine test event, Felli expressed praise for the organizers.

"The mountain is fantastic and yesterday was a great race; what we could also see was the level of preparation," said Felli, during an interview with Around the Rings, in the race finish area.

"We’ve been impressed with the fact that they had no knowledge at all coming in and we see their level of preparing the slope. It is a great thing," he said.

Felli said that a full slate of meetings are scheduled for Monday to tackle Games-related topics including construction, transport, workforce, accommodation, Games operations, Athletes’ Services, media services, spectators services and the Paralympic Games.

In regards to progress made by the Sochi 2014 organizers, Felli said, "As you can realize, they still have got a lot of work to do – they have to finalize every aspect of it. When they are finished on the construction side, then you have to finalize everything on the operational side."

"You have to start to count all the number of buses needed and where to put all of the people in hotels, there is a lot of work to do," he said.

With the sun shining over the Rosa Khutor finish area, Felli expressed support for the progress he sees in Sochi.

"Here in the mountains, it is fantastic to see these events here. I was here in October and we could not even recognize the bottom of the hill. We are confident that they will finish everything on time."

The IOC visit concludes on Tuesday as commission members will discuss sport, marketing, medical services, legacy, and technology. A closing press conference will be held following their meetings.

Austrian Ski Legend Karl SchranzSpends Time with Killy

One of Killy’s greatest rivals in the glory days of alpine skiing was Austria’s Karl Schranz. The two legends of the sport and longtime friends enthusiastically greeted each other on Sunday near the finish area.

At the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble, the two racers battled in three events, with Schranz being disqualified during a slalom run held in thick fog for apparently missing a gate prior to being interfered with by a course worker. The controversial ruling ultimately enabled Killy to win his third gold medal of at the Games. The Frenchman matched Austrian Toni Sailer’s accomplishment of 1956.

Schranz, the 1969 & 1970 World Cup downhill champion offered his thoughts on the future Olympic course at Rosa Khutor

"It’s a really great course – my friend Bernhard Russi did a good job on it, except he probably makes too many jumps, but that’s his style and of course my ex-rival Jean-Claude did an excellent job working with the Organizing Committee."

The Austrian great also spoke about the Winter Olympics coming to Russia.

"If you look around the valley with what they’ve done during the last three or four years; I’ve been to all of the Olympics and I’ve never seen people work so hard," said Schranz. "It’s just fantastic what they’ve built."

"But the problem will be, what will happen afterwards; they must bring people into the area and really get a lot of young people skiing."

Kostelic Injured?

World Cup leader Ivica Kostelic, 15th after the downhill portion of Sunday’s super combined stormed down the Rosa Khutor slalom course to victory, earning his sixth win of the season. He also claimed the season super combined title with no more races on the schedule.

However, Kostelic, who was visibly in discomfort during the awards ceremony, appeared to have injured his right knee and was taken to a Sochi hospital for an MRI after the race. Kostelic suspected that it could be a meniscus injury, something he has experienced before.

Kostelic's father Ante blamed the injury on the icy Russian course and the many jumps on the Rosa Khutor downhill piste.

"It was a very aggressive course with lots of turns and big jumps, it’s very easy to get injured on a course like this," said Ante Kostelic.

The reigning overall World Cup champion has dealt with several knee and back operations throughout his career.

With the men’s races completed in Krasnaya Polyana, attention will turn to Lindsey Vonn and ladies this upcoming week. Training runs on their downhill course are scheduled to begin on Wednesday. They will follow the same schedule as the men competing in both a downhill and super combined next weekend.

Written by Brian Pinelli in Sochi .