Winter Olympics 2014 goes to Sochi
As reported here in The Moscow Times, and just about everywhere else, the Russian City of Sochi has won the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
Sochi beat Pyeongchang, South Korea, by just four votes, 51-47. Salzburg, the early favorite, was eliminated in the first round with 25 votes. Pyeongchang won the first round, getting 36 votes compared with Sochi’s 34.
So what do we know about Sochi? From the official Sochi 2014 website :
Set between the golden shores of the Black Sea and the soaring snow-capped Caucasus mountains, Sochi offers visitors a unique taste of coastal and mountain living, all with a distinct Russian flavor. Sochi is a treasure among winter sport enthusiasts, who return every year to explore its pristine alpine valleys and skiing trails. Beautiful weather and an abundance of powdery snow are not the only reason to visit Sochi. The area’s endless beaches, national parks, imposing architecture, mineral baths, arts festivals and lively café culture have made the city an elegant haven for artists, executives, families and athletes alike.
Sochi is Russia’s major Black Sea port, with a population of 400,000 people, and is well known in Russia as a Winter Sports destination - particularly the Ski Resort of Krasnaya Polyana.
