Security at the Sochi Olympics: Let's Look at a Map

I am not a security expert.  This post outlines only some of the logical concerns that would confront someone pondering the situation for the first time.

Sochi's 410,000 residents perch on the shore of the Black Sea at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. Could terrorists move weapons or people along water routes on the Black Sea coast?  Georgia and its troublesome area of Abkhazia, not long ago involved in armed conflict with Russia, are a mere 20 miles away.  One assumes that Russian naval forces have these matters safely in hand on their own coast, and that Georgian authorities are cooperating to eliminate any potential threat on their end. (See this for New York Times on US Navy in region for Games.)

Motor transport routes to Sochi are limited.  The only available "highway" from the outside world is the two-lane M27 / E97, which runs between the coast and the mountains from the Georgian border to Novorosiisk, approximately 150 miles as the gull flies. Restrictions on traffic and cargo at the border with Georgia aside, the task at first glance seems relatively straightforward: a single two-lane road. However, much of the route is isolated and given the many twists and turns, traffic must move slowly.  The road's many river crossings also present possible complications. (Traffic in Sochi itself will be locked down for the duration of the games, with only official vehicles allowed.)

Rail connections to Sochi from central Russia (eventually, Moscow) hug the Black Sea coast. The main railroad terminal is right in the heart of the city.  Like the highway, the railroad continues down the coast to Georgia.  This is a much simpler situation than a typical Russian city, which would have rail connections from all points of the compass.

Air connections to Sochi appear to be through Sochi International Airport on the bank of the Mzymta River in the town of Adler, approximately 15 miles southeast of Sochi's center. There are two runways: from the south the approach is over the Black Sea and, briefly, the town: from the north, the approach comes from the Caucusus and concludes over isolated wooded ridges. Given the importance of air travel to the success of the games, one assumes the Russian armed forces have all of the approaches sewed up. (Note that travel to Sochi proper will have to be along the M27 / E97 highway.)

All things considered, a quick look at a map might suggest (limited) optimism.  The principal physical aspects of the situation are well defined and limited in number, so, from this angle, things look good: Sochi is small, carefully watched, and defended by competent professionals.  Let's call this framework "Sochi ain't Athens." But there's a competing framework to consider, "Russia ain't Greece." Consider the isolated nature of most of the transportation infrastructure and the difficult, mountainous terrain. Why attack in Sochi when so many other spots are easier? (Hence, Volgograd.)  And terrorists have had years to plot out strategy and timing, train, cache supplies, etc.  My (admittedly amateur) sense is that the real battle is being fought by boots on the ground in places we'll never hear about.