This week marked the beginning of the 22nd Winter Olympics, officially the XXII Olympics Winter Games, in Sochi, Russia.

Ninety-eight events in fifteen winter sports are scheduled to take place at two new venues constructed specifically for the event – an Olympic Park in the Imeretin Valley on the coast of the Black Sea and in the Krasnaya Polyana Mountains.

The Olympics have been surrounded by all sorts of controversy and the logo was one of the objects of discussion when it was released. Russia opted for an all typrographic treatment and sochi2014.ru is the first olympic emblem that also forms a web address.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, president of the International Olympic Committee, was quoted: “To prove our commitment to innovation, Sochi 2014 will have a clearly digital Games emblem. Today, we welcome tomorrow. We are offering invitation, an icon and an inspiration to people from across the world to celebrate the thrill of Russia’s first Olympic Winter Games. …”

Its (semi-)mirrored typography is intended to represent Sochi’s location on the Black Sea, “at the meeting point of the sea and the mountains.”

XXII Olympics Winter Games also inspired supporting graphics, which are intended to express the character of modern Russia, while alluding to traditional Russian arts and crafts. The “patchwork quilt” concept appears on the official website, as well as signage, infrastructure and many souvenirs.

Some people around the web were inspired to take the diamond shape and create related graphics.