Sochi Winter Olympic buildup – in pictures

Workers survey the fruits of their labour at the Extreme Park – home to the slopestyle events, which will make their Winter Olympic debut at Sochi. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Builders stand on top of the cauldron as the sun sets on the mountains behind them. Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

The curves of the Sanki sliding centre are illuminated as night falls on the Rosa Khutor mountains. Photograph: Arnd Weigmann/Reuters

Workers spray paint on the lips of the jumps at the Extreme Park. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

Jeremy Abbott of the United States practices his routine at the Iceberg Skating Palace. Photograph: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

The Swiss women's ice hockey team pass the time with a game of keepy uppy outside the Shayba Arena. Photograph: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Speed skater Ayaka Kikuchi of Japan reduces the stands of the Adler Arena to blurred lines during training. Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Workers smooth out the snow on the steep slopes of the ski jumping venue. Photograph: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP

Sculpting a jump on the snowboard course. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

The Rosa Khutor mountain cluster. You can also see the Olympic Village and the finish area of the Alpine events. Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

The view from the foot of the freestyle moguls course. Photograph: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

British speed skaters Jon Eley and Jack Whelbourne take a corner during training. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Course worker Svyatoslav Shirvel protects himself from the elements in style. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

Cross country skiers get the measure of the course before the games. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Kaetlyn Osmond of Canada practices during a figure skating training session. Photograph: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

A member of staff blows a kiss as she cleans a window in the Cross County stadium. Photograph: Gero Breloer/AP

Alex Bilodeau of Canada looks to be on the absolute limit of control during moguls practice. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Japanese figure skater and World Championship bronze medallist in 2012, Yuzuru Hanyu is mobbed by media on his arrival at Sochi airport. Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images

Double gold medallist Shaun White warms up on the slopestyle course. Photograph: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Aleksander Peretyagin of Russia speeds through the shadows of a covered section of the luge course. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Japan's speed skater Miyako Sumiyoshi works on her cornering. Photograph: Peter Dejong/AP

A cartridge flies out of a rifle as competitors train for the biathlon. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Andi Langenhan of Germany prepares for a training run on the luge course. Photograph: Tobias Hase/EPA

A technician works on the ice at the Ice Cube Curling Center. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Paula Walker and Rebekah Wilson of the GB bobsleigh team relax at their apartment at the Athletes Village. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Shelly Gotlieb, Stefi Luxton, Christy Prior and Rebecca Torr of New Zealand pose for a picture in the Olympic rings – something of a rite of passage for most athletes at Sochi. Photograph: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

Members of the Dutch team going through their stretching routine in the athletes' village. Photograph: Srdjan Suki/EPA

An early morning runner goes for a jog as the sun rises over the Olympic Park. Photograph: David Goldman/AP

Fireworks are let off during a rehearsal for the opening ceremony. Photograph: Alexander Demianchuk/Reuters

A volunteer rests near the finish area of the Alpine ski course. Photograph: Gero Breloer/AP