There's a century-old graveyard in the middle of Sochi's Olympic Park

The previous occupants of the Imeritinskaya Valley, now home to Sochi's Olympic Park, have relocated to a village nearby.

Well, the previous residents who are still alive have moved. The ones who have passed are still there, and they're right in the middle of the action in a cemetery -- steps away from colorful souvenirs and the bright Olympic flame.

The small assembly of those at rest is a purist sect of Old Believers, who branched out of the Russian Orthodox church during the 17th century, according to the Associated Press.

Before the bulldozing of homes and farms in the Valley began, the Old Believers insisted the century-old graves of their dead remained in tact.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, president of Sochi's organizing committee, said that all residents were offered fail deals, though reportedly only those who could prove ownership of homes or land were offered financial payments or replacement homes nearby.

"They are visiting these graves and they are using this cemetery and it was impossible by law in Russia to remove it," Chernyshenko said. 

Only relatives of those buried can make a decision on the relocation of a cemetery, and even so, the cemetery must have ceased to bury anyone for at least 50 years before that is an option.

“It’s not a prison,” Chernyshenko said. “In the games time, we will make it nice in terms of the environment. We will plant some trees, and not offend the view by the graves."