体坛英语新闻：Russia starts 1,000-day countdown for Sochi Winter Olympics

MOSCOW, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The Russian authorities on Saturday started a 1000-day countdown clock in the country's Black Sea city of Sochi for the opening of the Winter Olympic Games due on Feb. 7, 2014, according to local media.

The mountain-shaped clock, 4.15-meter high and 4.408-meter wide, reflects the dynamic spirit of the Sochi region, said the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee.

According to Sochi Mayor Anatoly Pakhomov, the start of the clock marked the moment when "we have really entering the finishing line in the preparation for the Olympics."

Meanwhile, the mayor also admitted that much work still remained to be carried out, saying "time has already passed. We must not be slow down -- only move forward."

Also on Saturday, some thousands of Russian people all over the country have participated in events that marked the 1,000-day countdown of the Sochi Olympic.

To mark the 1,000-day countdown of the start of Games is a traditional event for Olympic Organizing Committees.