A view of the Caucasus Mountains and Mzymta valley. Below, the lights of ski slope construction are visible. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
Fisht Stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies. Nearby, in the center of Olympic Park, an old cemetery has been preserved. Relatives visit the graves of their loved ones on the eve of Radonitsa, a traditional day of commemoration for the departed. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
When Sochi was announced as the 2014 host city, there was only one ski resort, one 4-level chairlift and 15 km of tracks. The double chair's safety system consisted of a steel chain. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
A field judge for the biathlete World Cup test event. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
A skier takes part in a humorous competition at Krasnaya Polyana ski resort, outside Sochi. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
Muslims pray outside the cafe Vavilon on the first day of Eid al-Adha. Many of them are workers from Central Asia who came for Olympics-related construction jobs. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
Workers get their morning brief for a day on the construction site at the Laura ski resort, a key facility for the Sochi games. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
A heavy mist near the Zimniy (Winter) theater. The theater was built during Stalin's regime. Stalin committed a lot of resources to build up a new resort on the Black Sea. The buildings from this period are called "Stalin's Modernism". From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
A view of the old Soviet sanatorium Ordzhonikidze. The city's history as a resort town continued through the Soviet era, during which a lot of the sanatoriums were constructed. This is the most well-known and prestigous. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
A migrant worker enjoys a smoke in the Uzbekistan cafe in Krasnaya Polyana. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
In October 2012, court bailiffs arrived at Alexei Kravets' house. They forced their way into the house and threw the family’s furniture, clothes, and personal possessions into the yard. By mid-afternoon, the home in which Alexey and his 13-year old son had been living for over nine years was demolished. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
Circassian nationalism is the desire among Circassians to establish (or rather, revive) an independent Circassian state with the contours of the former Circassia. Two supporters of the cause hold up the region's flag on the shores of the Black Sea, celebrating a day of memory for victims of the Caucasus War. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
Local fishermen struggle to get a bite on the Sochi seafront. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
Tourists warm themselves in a copper pot at the luxurious sauna complex, British Banya. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
A patient enjoys his mineral bath. Matsesta is the largest medical and balneal resort in Russia. It was established in 1902 on the base of healing hydrosulfuric springs. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
The Tissot-Box Grove in Sochi is a unique nature preserve because 20% of the plants there cannot be found anywhere else. For example, the park contains a 2,000 year-old yew tree, which is over 30 meters tall. The park's atmosphere fascinates visitors — a quiet place, seemingly free of human civilization. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
Tourists admire the landscape at one of the 33 waterfalls near the city of Sochi. Fewer tourists visited Sochi over the last two years due to the huge construction projects everywhere. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
Tourists sunbathe on s Black Sea beach near Sochi. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov
A boy hides from a big wave during a Black Sea storm. From the series "Sochi: A 100 Days Before the Olympic Games" © Mikhail Mordasov