Russian Women and Men Celebrate Russian 2014 Winter Olympic Victory
The International Olympic Committee voted to award the 2014 Winter Olympics to the Russian resort city of Sochi. The delegates in Guatemala City burst out in cheers, waving flags and celebrating while those in Sochi cried and hugged in the main square when the results were announced.
Sochi, located in the Black Sea area defeated Pyeongchang South Korea in a final vote of 51- 47. Russia is a Winter Olympic power, wining close to 300 Winter Games medals, but has never hosted the Games. That could have played to Russia’s favor with the committee, as they like to spread around hosting opportunities to new host countries.
President Putin went as far as to travel to Guatemala to make the final formal presentation in English and to lobby for votes to help secure the victory. The award has made many Russian women and men proud and some feel the opportunity to host the Olympics will lead to more democratic openness for the country as a whole.
Putin promised that the Olympic village in Sochi will be completed in time for the events and that participants will only have to walk five minutes to their venues.
