Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi was awarded the 2014 Olympics
on Wednesday, rewarding President Vladimir Putin and taking the
Winter Games to his country for the first time.
Sochi defeated the South Korean city of Pyeongchang 51-47 in the
final round of voting by the International Olympic Committee.
The Austrian resort of Salzburg was eliminated in the first
round of the secret ballot, setting up the decisive head-to-head
contest between Sochi and Pyeongchang.
Pyeongchang led the first round with 36 votes, followed by Sochi
with 34 and Salzburg with 25. Sochi picked up 17 votes in the
second round to secure the victory.
The result was a triumph for Putin, who put his international
prestige on the line by coming to Guatemala to lobby IOC members
and lead Sochi's final formal presentation to the assembly. Putin
had left by the time the result was announced.
IOC president Jacques Rogge opened a sealed envelope and read
the words the Russians longed to hear:
"The International Olympic Committee has the honor of announcing
the 22nd Olympic Winter Games in 2014 are awarded to the city of
Sochi."
Russian delegates in the hall erupted in cheers, jumped to their
feet and hugged each other. They unfurled a Russian flag and
chanted, "Sochi! Sochi!" Korean delegates bowed their heads, some
in tears.
"It was a historic decision for all countries," Sochi bid chief
Dmitry Chernychenko said. "Russia will become even more open, more
democratic."
(China Daily via AP July 5, 2007)