Environmentalists lost their bid Wednesday to block construction of sports facilities in Sochi if the Black Sea resort gets the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Russia's Supreme Court rejected Greenpeace's contention that Olympic-related projects would cause major ecological harm to the region.

Sochi's infrastructure and sports facilities are less developed than the other two finalists for the games _ Salzburg, Austria, and Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Russia plans to develop the Sochi region regardless of whether it winds the bid.

Government representatives argued in court that significant studies showed construction would not pose a threat to the region's environment, the RIA-Novosti news agency reported.

Greenpeace lawyer Mikhail Kreindlin told The Associated Press his organization plans to appeal, but added, "Honestly speaking, I don't think we have a big chance of success."

The Sochi bid committee says it is has made environmental protection one of the cornerstones of its plans. The International Olympic Committee will pick the winning city on July 4.