There will be a special protest zone at the Sochi Winter Olympics. The Russian authorities have announced that protests can be held if agreed with authorities, and must be held in a designated area, where security will be tight. The authorities had previously said there would be no protest permitted over the course of the games.

A tight security regime will be in force around the city between Early January and late March, with security concerns surrounding the games heightened following two suicide bomb blasts in the nearby city of Volgograd killed 34 people last weekend.

The BBC report that Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has announced protests will be permitted.

"The president has issued an instruction to the organisers of the Olympic Games, together with the leadership of Krasnodar Territory and the Sochi mayor's office, to select a venue in the city where rallies, demonstrations and other events, including, if necessary, protests, could be freely held," Mr Peskov said.

The games have been targeted by protest groups, with issues such as political reform and gay rights attracting heavy criticism of the Russian government. The spotlight on Russia’s political system and anti-gay laws has increased in recent months as the opening of the games has approached.