SOCHI, Russia — A top International Olympic Committee official praised Russian organizers of the 2014 Winter Games for their "open and constructive" attitude Wednesday, while warning against any delays in preparations.

Jean-Claude Killy, the Frenchman who heads the IOC panel overseeing the Sochi Games, and other members of the coordination commission are spending two days examining proposed Olympic venues and provisions for accommodation, transportation and communication at the Black Sea resort city.

Most of the venues are being built from scratch, including the seaside site that is to include ice arenas, a ceremonial stadium and the main Olympic Village. In the mountains 22 miles away, snow sport venues require a new road and rail link from the shore to the mountains.

Killy gave a glowing assessment of preparations to revamp the city and construct the Olympic facilities.

"The Russian diamond is shining more and more with each passing day," Killy said.

Killy noted that increasing coordination between sporting bodies and government agencies will be key to ensuring a successful games.

Russia won its bid to host the Winter Olympics in 2007, when it was still riding high on the crest of an eight-year oil-fueled boom.

Since then, oil prices have plummeted and caused Russia's economy to grind to a halt, slowing the construction industry and cutting deep into the fortunes of Kremlin-friendly tycoons who are footing part of the bill.

But Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, who is overseeing Sochi preparations, said Wednesday that the funds earmarked for building work will be allocated as planned.

The Olympics are a "priority national project" for Russia and enjoy "maximum support from the government," Kozak said.

Construction on Olympic facilities is going according to schedule and building of access roads, depots and other logistics facilities has been largely completed, he said, adding that full-scale construction works at a number of sites are set to start this summer.

"We can say with complete certainty that all the sports and infrastructure facilities will be completed by 2012," Kozak said.

Resettlement of local residents from some districts of the city has provoked much public anger, but Kozak said organizers will be "fully transparent" in monitoring the process with help from the IOC.

"Our motto is the Olympics for the city, not the city for the Olympics," he said.