Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday urged the government to convert Sochi to a year-round resort after the Winter Olympic Games.

"After the Olympics, the city should become a modern year-round world-class resort, a main tourism, sports and recreational center of ours," Medvedev told a government meeting in which the preparation for the Games were discussed.

He urged to start work on post-Olympics conversion of Sochi from the host city to everyday life as soon as possible, with its facilities to serve as an engine for the development of the entire region.

Preparations for the Games, Medvedev noted, have visibly improved the city environment. Modern sporting, transportation, energy, communications, healthcare, hospitality infrastructures have been created.

"The city has been changed, beautified, obtained more modern look," he said.

Medvedev mentioned that all sporting venues in Sochi have been fully ready for the Olympics and Paralympics, and urged the government to ensure that the tickets for the sporting events are affordable for anyone regardless of income. [ According to the Ministry of Construction, 309 out of 363 Olympic arenas and other facilities in Sochi have been fully prepared, with the rest in a process of final paperwork before opening.

The 22nd Winter Olympics, the first of its kind in Russia, are slated for Feb. 7-23 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, with 98 sets of medals up for grab.