Russian President Vladimir Putin (R), Sberbank President German Gref (C) and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kosak visit an Olympic venue near Sochi January 3, 2014.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R), Sberbank President German Gref (C) and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kosak visit an Olympic venue near Sochi January 3, 2014. Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin hit the ski slopes, to personally inspect the venues for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games.

Putin, who was accompanied by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, also met athletes and inspected hotels in the city.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (C) sit on a chair lift during their visit to the "Laura" cross country ski and biathlon centre in the resort of Krasnaya Polyana near Sochi January 3, 2014.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (C) sit on a chair lift during their visit to the "Laura" cross country ski and biathlon centre in the resort of Krasnaya Polyana near Sochi January 3, 2014. Reuters

"In the coming days, the president will examine in detail all the [five] venues of the mountain cluster and [six venues of] the coastal cluster," press secretary Dmitry Peskov told the Itar-Tass news agency.

"He will once again watch the preparation procedures for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games whose rehearsals are taking place at the Fisht Stadium."

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the "Laura" cross country ski and biathlon centre in the resort of Krasnaya Polyana near Sochi January 3, 2014.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the "Laura" cross country ski and biathlon centre in the resort of Krasnaya Polyana near Sochi January 3, 2014. Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev chat during their visit to the "Laura" cross country ski and biathlon centre in the resort of Krasnaya Polyana near Sochi January 3, 2014.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev chat during their visit to the "Laura" cross country ski and biathlon centre in the resort of Krasnaya Polyana near Sochi January 3, 2014. Reuters

The trip comes after the 61-year-old's visit to the southern Russian city of Volgograd, 400 miles from Sochi, which witnessed two suicide bombings, on 29 and 30 December killing more than 30 people.

Security has been beefed up at important places across Russia.

"The heinousness of the crimes committed here in Volgograd doesn't require any additional comments," Putin said during a meeting with law enforcement officials in Volgograd, "Whatever the motives of the criminals, there is no justification for the crimes committed against civilian persons, especially against women and children."

The Olympics are due to be held between 7-23 February, while the Paralympics will be held from 7-16 March.