Nine other cities have said they will bid. They are Pyeongchang (South Korea), Salzburg (Austria), Sofia (Bulgaria), Harbin (China), Ostersund (Sweden), Jaca (Spain), Borjomi (Georgia), Munich (Germany) and Almaty (Khazakstan).
The IOC deadline for applications is Thursday with a final decision to be made in July 2007.
Russian Olympic Committee president Leonid Tyagachyov said: "We have government guarantees, we have great support from local officials and the people of Sochi.
"So I think this could be the start of something great. We just need to get to work right away and not waste any time."
