Less than three weeks before the start of the Sochi Winter Olympics, the mountains above the Russian host city are thickly covered with snow.

On the ski-slopes above the resort, local Tatyana Alekseeva told reporters: “I think there’ll be snow in any case. It’ll remain until February. There’ll be snow by the ski jump – there’s lots there already.”

“There’s always snow in February, and it falls – so there’s no need to worry. I’ve been working and skiing here for the past four years and February is the best time,” enthused Sergey Kopylov, another Sochi resident.

Meteorologists warn that, rather than a lack of snow, avalanches and poor visibility are potential problems for the Games, which begin on February 7.