Russian ice hockey veteran Alex Ovechkin has hit back at critics of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, claiming that people should just "enjoy" the Games and not "find bad stuff".

The 28-year-old, who captains NHL outfit the Washington Capitals, also expressed dismay at the fact that 'nobody said anything bad' about previous Olympic tournaments.

"I've been in three Olympic Games. I remember Turin and Vancouver and nobody said something bad about Vancouver and Turin. Why you guys always try to find some bad things in Sochi?" Ovechkin, who is leaving for Russia on Sunday, told reporters.

"It's Olympics, guys, come on. Everybody has to [enjoy it] and don't find bad stuff out there. Everything in Turin was where the construction was and nobody said [anything] about that. Of course world is changing, everybody is focusing on different stuff, political stuff, but just settle down."

Ovechkin has won the IIHF World Championship with the Russian national ice hockey team twice, in 2008 and 2012.