Russian Black Sea port chosen as host for 2014 Olympics
Sochi, a Russian port on the Black Sea, was awarded the 2014 Olympics yesterday, rewarding President Vladimir V. Putin and sending the Winter Games to his country for the first time.
Sochi defeated Pyeongchang, South Korea, 51-47, in the final round of voting by the International Olympic Committee.
Salzburg, an Austrian resort, was eliminated in the first round of the secret ballot, setting up the 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 Games.
The result was a triumph for Putin, who put his international prestige on the line by going 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."
In Sochi, cheers erupted from the crowd of more than 15,000 that had gathered for a pop concert and the announcement in a main square.
"We did it all together. We won," the concert's announcer said from the stage as fireworks lit the sky.
People hugged and waved their hands in the air. Some appeared to have tears in their eyes.
Russia, an Olympic power that has won 293 Winter Games medals, has never hosted the Winter Games. Moscow hosted the 1980 Summer Games, which were the target of a U.S.-led boycott after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
Sochi defeated Pyeongchang, South Korea, 51-47, in the final round of voting by the International Olympic Committee.
Salzburg, an Austrian resort, was eliminated in the first round of the secret ballot, setting up the 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 Games.
The result was a triumph for Putin, who put his international prestige on the line by going 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."
In Sochi, cheers erupted from the crowd of more than 15,000 that had gathered for a pop concert and the announcement in a main square.
"We did it all together. We won," the concert's announcer said from the stage as fireworks lit the sky.
People hugged and waved their hands in the air. Some appeared to have tears in their eyes.
Russia, an Olympic power that has won 293 Winter Games medals, has never hosted the Winter Games. Moscow hosted the 1980 Summer Games, which were the target of a U.S.-led boycott after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.