Vladimir Putin was sky high when he heard the news.

He was already winging his way home…. mission accomplished…when the IOC members awarded him the prize of hosting the Winter Olympics in 2014.

Putin called from his plane to thank President Jacques Rogge and the IOC members for awarding Russia their first-ever Winter Olympics.

He had spearheaded the campaign in Guatemala wooing the IOC members and locking up the necessary votes for Sochi to topple the equally aggressive South Koreans and Pyeongchang.

Earlier in the day Putin spoke in English at the final bid presentation promising to invest $12 billion US to transform Sochi into a world class Olympic facility.

A huge investment but he pledged “millions of Russians are united behind the Olympics”.

The new Russia needed the Games.

On the podium to collect the first gold medal of the Games his comrades… whoops colleagues…. carried on the theme.

“2014 will accelerate positive change in our young democracy,” said Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov. "Our bid has inspired the nation and brought great national pride”.

Putin wanted the Games so bad he came in person to claim the prize in much the same way Tony Blair did for London when they toppled Paris in the race for the 2012 Summer Games.

At the victory press conference the IOC President Jacques Rogge was asked if political leaders “were a must for any Olympic bid”.

He said “it reflects on the value of the importance and benefit of the Olympic Games to any country”.

All three bid cities in Guatemala emphasised the need to inspire young people on and off the sporting arena. Putin is investing $12 billion big ones to inspire young Russians.

In Australia in the 50’s and 60’s Betty Cuthbert, Shirley Strickland, Murray Rose, Dawn Fraser, John Devitt and Herb Elliott inspired a young nation. Cathy Freeman and Ian Thorpe inspired a new generation in the year 2000.

For this reason China is investing $48 billion US in next year’s Beijing Games. Their Games’ are seen as a “coming out” party as they assume the title of the world’s economic superpower.

By the time he landed back in Russia Putin was probably thinking he got a bargain.

Mike Tancred in Guatemala
AOC