LONDON, February 24. /ITAR-TASS/. Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone said he wanted the race of Russia’s first ever Grand Prix, slated to be held in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi this fall, to be a night race, British media reported on Monday.

In December, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) officially announced the calendar of the 2014 Formula One races, and the Grand Prix in Russia’s Sochi was scheduled for October 12 as the 16th out of19 F1 Grand Prix races this year.

"I think they would go for the idea. At night the stadiums are very colourful with lots of lights and the backdrop to a race would be fantastic,” The Times quoted Ecclestone as saying.

Ecclestone’s statement comes in the wake of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, which were held in Russia’s Sochi between February 7 and 23. Athletes as well as sports and state officials praised the organization of the Games in Russia, particularly outlining the infrastructure prepared for the Games.

“It (the surrounding area) was a bit of dump, quite honestly," Ecclestone said. "But they have spent a lot of money, and there is a lot going on, and the place is changing all the time."

The Russian Grand Prix will be held at the racing track, which is currently under construction near the Olympic Village in the coastal area of Sochi. The contract to include Russia in the calendar of F1 racing was signed in 2010 in Sochi by then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and F1 supremo Ecclestone.