From the start, the Sochi 2014 bid was never just about sports.

The Black Sea resort was selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2007 – a charmed year for Putin-era Russia. Economic growth was at its second-highest level since the collapse of the Soviet Union and oil prices reached a 30-year peak. The worldwide financial crisis was still a year away and a million miles from the public consciousness.

For Russia, the Games were a chance to return to the spotlight after two decades of relative irrelevance.

Vladimir Putin – who literally took center stage during the bid with a surprise speech to the IOC that showcased his English to the world for the first time – did not shy away from the geopolitical significance of Sochi 2014.

"This is not just a recognition of Russia's sporting achievements, but it is, beyond any doubt, a judgment on our country. It is a recognition of our growing capability, first of all economically and socially," Putin said as the Russian delegation celebrated the close victory.

That effortless ebullience was always going to be hard to maintain for seven years.

Sochi itself – a densely populated subtropical city with mediocre infrastructure relatively close to conflict hotspots – was never going to be an easy site to adapt for the Games.

In fact, that was the point.

For other recent hosts, a positive Olympic legacy was stadiums that would not stand empty after the last paying spectators filed out, the revitalization of a small part of a metropolis, or simply a bill that would not cripple the host town for decades.

Russia aimed higher.

Sochi was to be rebuilt from a bustling but creaky and provincial resort to a world-class tourism capital.

Some locals have objected to seeing their hometown turned into a building site, and other Russians have balked at the bill for the Games and related infrastructure, which will total well over US$50 billion – a number that exceeds the record of Beijing in 2008 and positively dwarfs those of previous winter competitions.

But now, the brand new facilities – designed by the world’s top architects – glitter in the snow. Whether they are enough to attract millions of tourists to Sochi in the future will become apparent only years after the Games have finished.

Getting the world to stay on message has proved more difficult than erecting ice rinks, as Russia has found itself discussing its homosexual propaganda laws more than any other issue. The legislation in question may be highly controversial, but its relation to the Games is tangential at best – suggesting a level of opportunism among Sochi’s critics, however justified their complaints. Ironically, and not for the first time, an event designed to promote the country’s reputation has become a hobby horse for those who wish to do just the opposite.

But such problems are slalom gates that have to be passed.

Through their lengthy preparations, major sports events always accrue a debt in the public perception. The preparations for the last Olympics in London were overshadowed by endless concerns over security, traffic, and rising costs, along with a transformable stadium that cost more than a permanent structure.

Yet once the first athlete took off their tracksuit, the credit was repaid, and handsomely so in the end, as a communal spirit and world-record performances captured the headlines.

Sochi has already provided the first spectacle with an Olympic torch relay that was, by turns, both spectacular and comical - and most importantly provided real insight into Russia.

Now, after much anticipation, the Olympics are set to begin. The debates on whether the Games were “worth it” will continue, but nothing can wipe out the genuine drama and history that is about to unfold on the ice surface and ski slopes of Sochi 2014.

How did Sochi get to host the Olympics in the first place?

Despite topping the medals table in eight of the 15 Winter Games the Soviet Union and Russia participated in, neither country was ever given a chance to host.

Ahead of selection in Guatemala in 2007, Sochi did not receive the best assessment from inspectors, with Austria’s Salzburg and South Korea’s Pyeongchang favored instead.

But Moscow staged a slick and well-funded campaign, and had Vladimir Putin stake his and his country’s reputation on delivering a top-quality event. With a record budget promised for the Games, it was obvious that Russia would spare no expense.

Sochi came second behind Pyeongchang in the first round of votes, but neither city achieved the majority necessary for an outright victory. Sochi defeated the South Korean city 51-47 in the final vote.

Incidentally, there were no real losers, as Pyeongchang will host the 23rd Winter Games in 2018 after winning the bid in 2011.

What are the facilities like?

The Sochi Games will take place on two separate sites.

Down by the palm tree-dotted coast is the main cluster of indoor facilities and the Olympic village itself. Temperatures here rarely fall below freezing, and indeed Sochi is the warmest city to ever host the Winter Games.

The centerpiece is the 40,000 capacity Fisht Stadium – named after a local mountain – which will host the opening and closing ceremonies. Designed by Populous architectural firm, which rebuilt the stadium that hosted the last World Cup Final in Johannesburg, Fisht stadium will be expanded to host matches during the 2018 World Cup.

The site itself will also be used after the Games, and will host Russia’s first ever Formula 1 race next year.

The Bolshoi Ice Dome along with the Shayba Arena will host ice hockey events.

The outdoor facilities are at Krasnaya Polyana, located about 500 meters above sea level. At the moment, there is snow at the facilities – but just in case, there are 500 snow cannons on standby, ready to release 25 million cubic feet of snow saved up from previous winters.

What are the main controversies?

The Sochi Winter Games have been engulfed in various controversies including corruption allegations, homosexual propaganda laws, and security threats.

Corruption allegations varied in size and reach, with some claiming that one-third of the budget for the Olympic Games in Russia was stolen.

President Putin admitted some misconduct on the part of local officials, but denied allegations of large-scale Olympic corruption, urging those with accusations to bring forth evidence.

"We don't see any large-scale instances of corruption during our preparations...in Sochi. If anyone has any information about corruption in Sochi, please hand it over, we will be glad and grateful," Putin said in a January interview with ABC, BBC, and Russian and Chinese journalists.

"A few years ago local bureaucrats tried to buy and sell land intended for Olympic venues. Investigations were carried out, these people were tried by Russian courts and are serving their punishments,” Putin continued.

Another controversy surrounding Sochi was Russia’s legislation banning so-called homosexual propaganda among minors that began to dominate the world’s press in the run-up to the Games.

LGBT communities throughout the world have decried the law as discriminatory and even called for a boycott on the Olympics. The Russian government has sought to allay fears that visitors to Sochi would be discriminated against, pledging that the law will not apply to guests or participants during the Games.

Putin said that none of the guests in Sochi would have any problems and that members of the LGBT community were “welcome” at the Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee stated on numerous occasions that Russia’s legislation does not violate the organization’s rules.

Another big concern for the Winter Games is security. Since 2007 - when Sochi was chosen as the host of the 2014 Olympics - questions have been raised about the security of the city and its surroundings, due to its proximity to the North Caucasus region, known for Islamist insurgency.

Uncertainties spiked following terror attacks in the southern city of Volgograd - situated 700 kilometers from Sochi – which claimed more than 30 lives in December.

But officials say that security has been their number one priority while preparing for the Games. Indeed, an unprecedented level of security has been implemented around the city. Tens of thousands of police officers have been tasked to protect tourists, athletes, and residents against possible threats.

Just last week, US President Obama encouraged Americans to travel to the Olympics in Russia, saying he believes “Sochi is safe.”

"The Russian authorities understand the stakes here,” Obama said in an interview with CNN. “They understand that there are potential threats that are out there, and we are coordinating with them. We've looked at their plans.”

How do Russians feel about the Games?

Many Russians feel pride over hosting the Games. A survey by Russia's independent Levada polling center showed that the majority of Russians believe a strong performance by athletes would increase the country’s international image.

Russian public opinion is still split in its judgment of the country’s performance at the London Olympics in 2012. Russia finished fourth in the official medal standings – behind the USA, China, and Great Britain.

Many have better hopes for the Winter Games, with 43 percent of respondents believing that Russia will finish in the top three countries. The majority of those surveyed specified that the most important thing is watching their own athletes do well.

Despite many of those surveyed expressing worries over corruption allegations, 38 percent of respondents said they believe Russia’s choice to host the Winter Olympics in Sochi was the right move for the country.

What about the actual competition?

Sochi has opened its doors to 6,700 athletes who will be staying in the Mountain Olympic Village, Coastal Cluster, and Endurance Village. All the housing areas are located within a few minutes’ walk from the competition venues.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in France published that it projects Russia to achieve third place overall. It estimates that the US will come in first with 35 medals, Germany second with 26 medals, and Russia third with 25 medals.

The Associated Press has predicted that Russia will come in fourth with 10 gold medals. It expects Norway to grab more gold medals than any other team at the Sochi Games. The news agency estimated that good performances in the biathlon, alpine skiing, and cross-country skiing - among other events - will allow the Norwegians to come away with 17 Olympic gold medals.

AP predicts that the US will achieve second place in the overall standings with 14 gold medals, and the Canadians will finish third with 13 golds. It has forecasted that Russia will come in fourth place.

Another projection places Russia in sixth place with seven gold medals, according to AIF newspaper.

The year 2014 marks 90 years of Winter Olympics, with twelve new sporting events making their debuts, providing athletes with fresh ways to compete for the gold. New competitions in figure skating, extreme sports, and biathlon events are set to take place.