
A countdown clock to the 2014 Winter Olympics is seen during the launching ceremony in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, on Feb. 7, 2013. Russia started a countdown of the 2014 Winter Olympics Thursday with festivities in major cities across the country. The 2014 Winter Olympics is to take place from Feb. 7 to 23, 2014 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. (Xinhua)