As thousands of tourists come to Sochi from around the world, Russian organisers hope the city will benefit from being in the spotlight.<br /><br />Organisers say that almost a third of tickets to the Olympic events were bought by non-Russians. It’s the moment of truth for a city aspiring to become Russia’s first choice holiday destination after its Olympic transformation. <br /><br />While just 50 kilometres away there are snow covered mountains, Sochi itself is a seaside resort with a subtropical climate, something that’s come as a surprise to many visitors.<br /><br />One woman visiting from Scotland said: “It is very strange – it seems a bit odd to be looking at palm trees and blue skies, and not wearing a coat, and then tomorrow we’re going up to the mountains, and we’ll be in the snow. So yeah, it seems very strange!”<br /><br />Security has been the main concern after Islamic militants threatened to derail the Winter Games. Railway stations are only accessible through security zones where passengers face an airport-li
