Augsburger, the former Chef de Mission of Switzerland's Olympic team, including at Beijing in 2008, had taken up the position in September but asked to be allowed to return home at the end of the probationary period of his contract.

Augsburger had been employed to oversee Sochi's preparations to ensure competition in the seven sports that will be part of the Olympics run smoothly but admitted he found living alone in Moscow - where he was mainly based - difficult without his family difficult.

"With more knowledge of Russia things would have worked out differently," Augsburger told Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung.

"I do not regret getting involved with Sochi.

"It was a short but very valuable and exciting time in my life."

René Fasel, the Swiss who is head of the International Olympic Committee's Coordination Commission overseeing Sochi's preparations, does not believe that Augsburger's decision to quit is a serious blow to the preparations of the Russian city.

"Sochi is well on course," he said.

"The Russians are doing a great job.

"I'm sure they will soon find a successor [for Augsburger]."

The 53-year-old Augsburger, meanwhile, is beginning the search for a new job.

Before joining Sochi 2014, Augsburger had been the chief executive of the Swiss Ice Hockey League for two seasons. 

"I still see my future in sports management," he said.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
April 2011: Sochi 2014 recruit head of Swiss hockey league as new sports director