The Russian city on the Black Sea is currently undertaking the biggest construction project in the country's recent history - with more than 16,000 workers already employed on the various sites across the area - and Pakhomov is proud of how it will transform the region.

The estimated cost of the infrastructure projects is put officially at $7 billion (£4.5 billion), although it is suspected to be much higher than that. 

Pakhomov told insidethegames: "The Olympics is not only about athletic competition but also about culturalism, patriotism and a new city infrastructure.

"The city obviously needed a lot of investment.

"What it would have taken us 100 years to build we now doing in three, thanks to the Olympics.

"It will be nice to have an improved Sochi, a city that will be even better for its citizens to live in.

"You can't put a price on that."

Pakhomov is promising a unique experience for people attending the Olympics with the cluster of ice arenas situated along the Black Sea coast and snow and sliding venues a half-hour away in the Krasnaya Polyana mountains.

A new rail line is being built to connect the two clusters.

Pakhomov said: "You can swim in the warm Sochi sea, and after 24 minutes on a train, you can change clothes and go skiing in the mountains.

"The city is totally unique in terms of its climate.

"But it will still be one of the most compact Olympics in history."

Pakhomov dismisses concerns over safety even though Sochi is located in a volatile region, just north of the border with Abkhazia, where Russia has thousands of troops.

Russia defied the West by recognising Abkhazia and another separatist region, South Ossetia, as independent after its war with Georgia in 2008.

But the Mayor is promising that there will not be any problems during the Games.

He said: "Sochi is the safest city in Russia - its the summer residence of the President (Dmitry Medvedev) and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin) so obviously security is air-tight.

"Many world leaders have travelled there and there has never been any problems.

"I can promise you that there will not be any problems in Sochi."

But that is not to think that Pakhomov (pictured) is taking anything for granted and he acknowledges that the flag ceremony today is a brutal reminder of how the close the Games now are.

He said: "For me and all Russians it is going to be an historic event.

"We have been waiting for this for a long time.

"I'm very, very proud but a little anxious.

"It suddenly seems very real that we will be hosting the 2014 Olympics."

Both Medvedev and Putin will not be attending the Closing Ceremony, which is partly being attributed to Russia's poor performance at these Games.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, the Sochi 2014 chief executive, insisted both had been closely involved with the bid and defended their absences.

He told insidethegames: "Since the very beginning of our bid we've enjoyed full Governmental support and President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin are personally and deeply involved in the preparation for the Games."

Chernyshenko claimed that the Sochi project "remains firmly on track" and a series of test events would be held in the run-up to the Games.

He said: "The Games will bring a sporting, social, economic and environmental legacy that will last for generations."

Chernyshenko said a team of about 150 people had visited Vancouver to learn lessons for Sochi.

He said: "We've learned that advanced planning is a crucial part of the success, especially the contingency plan for the weather or for the transportation."

Chernyshenko revealed details of Sochi's plans for the multi-million dollar Closing Ceremony here tomorrow.

Sochi will have eight minutes to showcase its city and the next Games.

Pakhomov will receive the flag from Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson during the ceremony.

He told insidethegames: "I don't know everything will work but it will be a very proud moment for me, Sochi and Russia."

Pakhomov has vowed not to repeat the mistake that London Mayor Boris Johnson made during the Closing Ceremony in Beijing two years ago when he did not button up his jacket when receiving the flag from Jacaques Rogge - and was accused of embarrassing the city.

Pakhomov has brought a new suit for the occasion.

He said: "I'm representing a great city of Russia and I will not do something like that."

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