Putin: Sochi Delivered

(ATR) Vladimir Putin says the Sochi Olympics are delivering benefits in excess of expectations.

The Russian president spoke about the 2014 Winter Games during his annual press conference, this year running about four hours, one hour less than last year’s session, covered live on TV.

"We have achieved everything that we wanted to achieve in the preparation and the organization of the Olympics," Putin is quoted in a translation of his remarks by Tass news agency.

"We have achieved even more that we dreamed about — we won the Olympics, and for this we heartily thank our Olympic and Paralympic athletes who were the real heroes of the Games."

Russia surprised the world by topping the medal table in Sochi with 33 overall medals, 13 of them gold, also number one. Four years earlier at the Vancouver Olympics, Russia delivered one of its worst ever performances at the Winter Games.

A year ago in his 2013 press conference, Putin fielded a number of questions about the then-upcoming Olympics. There were concerns about security and whether accommodations and transport were up to par. Putin delivered assurances that all would be ready.

Now the question facing Putin is whether Sochi is more than a one-time boom for the Black Sea resort. As much as $51 billion is reported to have been spent on construction, although Putin has said the figure is closer to $12 billion.

Putin says the investment has left behind a year-round destination in Sochi, previously known as a place to go for summer vacations.

"I am sure that everything has been booked out there by the end of the mountain skiing season and there are simply no vacancies already," Putin said. "It proves that we, people of Russia, now have a new year-round recreation center both for summer and winter seasons."

The current season will be the first test of tourist demand for the new ski slopes and hotel rooms built in the mountains for the Games. Putin may be right about few vacancies. With the collapse of the ruble, recreational skiers in Russia are finding that Sochi is far more affordable than heading to destinations in the Alps.

In October, Sochi hosted its first ever Formula 1 race staged at the Olympic Park. In January, the main hockey arena for the Olympics, the Bolshoi, will play host to the KHL all-star game. In April, the annual SportAccord convention is scheduled for hotels and venues in the Olympic Park. The IOC Executive Board is scheduled to meet during the convention.

Reported by Ed Hula

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