Journalists might have complained about their accommodation, but the vibe among Sochi's athletes in the Olympic Village is altogether more upbeat...
All singing and dancing athletes —
Journalists might have complained about their accommodation, but the vibe among Sochi's athletes in the Olympic Village is altogether more upbeat...
Al Bello/Getty Images
Whenever you travel far afield it always helps to bag a room with a view.
Scene setter —
Whenever you travel far afield it always helps to bag a room with a view.
Al Bello/Getty Images
Anybody is anybody sports a flag in the Olympic Village. Hats off to the Swiss for their effortless flag co-ordination.
Precision flag arrangement —
Anybody is anybody sports a flag in the Olympic Village. Hats off to the Swiss for their effortless flag co-ordination.
Fabrice Coffrin/AFP/Getty Images
If you have had a bad day of competition, these Olympic Village bedspreads are guaranteed to cheer you up.
Olympic bedspreads —
If you have had a bad day of competition, these Olympic Village bedspreads are guaranteed to cheer you up.
AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, Pool
Athletes never tire of competing. After they have skied or skated their hearts out they have the opportunity to test their prowess in other contests.
Game time —
Athletes never tire of competing. After they have skied or skated their hearts out they have the opportunity to test their prowess in other contests.
Ben Wyatt/CNN
This room comes with a bed, wardrobe, curtains and a mirror. What's not to like?
Pied-a-terre —
This room comes with a bed, wardrobe, curtains and a mirror. What's not to like?
Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
Putting on an Olympic Games is a major endeavor and preparations will always hit the odd snag.
Final touches —
Putting on an Olympic Games is a major endeavor and preparations will always hit the odd snag.
Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
Final touches are also being put to the health and safety guidelines for the Olympic Village's inhabitants -- rule number one: watch out for open manholes.
Beware manhole —
Final touches are also being put to the health and safety guidelines for the Olympic Village's inhabitants -- rule number one: watch out for open manholes.
Al Bello/Getty Images
The Olympic Village comes replete with a outdoor swimming pool.
Pool life —
The Olympic Village comes replete with a outdoor swimming pool.
Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
If you are Dutch, you are never very far away from a bike -- even in Sochi.
Home from home —
If you are Dutch, you are never very far away from a bike -- even in Sochi.
Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
The Czech Republic team lodgings have a privileged view of these fetching Olympic rings.
Olympic rings —
The Czech Republic team lodgings have a privileged view of these fetching Olympic rings.
Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
This dog has the posture of an animal that looks less than impressed by the impending start of the Winter Olympics. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2014%2F02%2F05%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Frussia-sochi-stray-dogs%2Findex.html%3Fhpt%3Dhp_t2">In the countdown to the Winter Games, Russian animal rights activists have accused city authorities of ramping up a campaign to exterminate street dogs through the use of poison.</a>
Olympic dog —
This dog has the posture of an animal that looks less than impressed by the impending start of the Winter Olympics. In the countdown to the Winter Games, Russian animal rights activists have accused city authorities of ramping up a campaign to exterminate street dogs through the use of poison.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Don't believe everything you read and hear about Sochi. Here are two things that are working: the cable cars at the ski jump and 3G phone connection, even in the mountains.
In working order —
Don't believe everything you read and hear about Sochi. Here are two things that are working: the cable cars at the ski jump and 3G phone connection, even in the mountains.
Ben Wyatt/CNN
Not one but five kinds of pizza are on offer.
Pizza power —
Not one but five kinds of pizza are on offer.
Ben Wyatt/CNN
CNN's man on the ground in Sochi Ben Wyatt took this picture. Even he is not quite sure what it means.
Sochi installation art? —
CNN's man on the ground in Sochi Ben Wyatt took this picture. Even he is not quite sure what it means.
Ben Wyatt/CNN
It's always a good idea to explain snags to your residents. Here a sign explains the delays to hotel opening at the Gorky Grand hotel at Gorky Gorod 960 prior to the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at the Mountain Cluster.
Gorky Grand —
It's always a good idea to explain snags to your residents. Here a sign explains the delays to hotel opening at the Gorky Grand hotel at Gorky Gorod 960 prior to the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at the Mountain Cluster.
Julian Finney/Getty Images