Russia plays down Sochi medal hopes
Print Edition
Russia’s sports minister yesterday played down the host’s chances at the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Sochi following a bitterly disappointing 2010 performance in Vancouver.
The Soviet-era winter sports superpower managed just three gold medals in Canada — a finish that left it lagging in 11th place on the medals table and prompted an overhaul of the entire Olympic federation.
Russia responded by spending lavishly on top foreign coaches and pouring funds into new facilities that could help train a new generation of athletes for the February 7-23 Games on the Black Sea.
The Games’ success also carries heavy political overtones for the Kremlin amid its efforts to use patriotism to mobilize support around President Vladimir Putin’s 14-year rule.
Putin staked his personal reputation on the Games’ success by lobbying for Sochi’s candidacy before the International Olympic Committee and then spending more than US$50 billion for the event.
But Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said fans should not expect miracles from their team just because it was performing on home snow and ice.
“In my opinion, our situation is more difficult in the winter sports than it is in the summer ones,” Mutko said.
“There are 98 sets of medals being contested in 14 sports. And only five are our traditional strengths,” he noted.
Mutko said he would be happy if Russia finished in the top five in the medals.
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