nevadamedic
07-04-2007, 11:50 PM
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) -- Vladimir Putin pulled off for Russia what Tony Blair did for Britain in the latest Olympic vote.
Backed by the Russian president's personal lobbying, charisma and government support, the Black Sea resort of Sochi was elected Wednesday as the host city of the 2014 Winter Games.
Sochi defeated the South Korean city of Pyeongchang by four votes in the final round of a secret ballot by the International Olympic Committee, taking the Winter Games to Russia for the first time.
The result was a personal triumph for "the captain," who put his international prestige on the line by coming to Guatemala to lobby IOC members and lead Sochi's final formal presentation.
"Putin being here was very important," said French IOC member and former ski champion Jean-Claude Killy. "He worked very hard at it. He was nice. He spoke French -- he never speaks French. He spoke English -- he never speaks English.
"The Putin charisma can explain four votes."
Full Article............
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/07/04/2014
.olympics.ap/index.html?cnn=yes
Well, the O;ympics are officially ruined now. :salute:
Backed by the Russian president's personal lobbying, charisma and government support, the Black Sea resort of Sochi was elected Wednesday as the host city of the 2014 Winter Games.
Sochi defeated the South Korean city of Pyeongchang by four votes in the final round of a secret ballot by the International Olympic Committee, taking the Winter Games to Russia for the first time.
The result was a personal triumph for "the captain," who put his international prestige on the line by coming to Guatemala to lobby IOC members and lead Sochi's final formal presentation.
"Putin being here was very important," said French IOC member and former ski champion Jean-Claude Killy. "He worked very hard at it. He was nice. He spoke French -- he never speaks French. He spoke English -- he never speaks English.
"The Putin charisma can explain four votes."
Full Article............
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/07/04/2014
.olympics.ap/index.html?cnn=yes
Well, the O;ympics are officially ruined now. :salute: