Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics

The decision to choose Sochi as the host city was taken by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) on the 4th of July 2007 at the 119th IOC Session in Guatemala City. Seven cities had originally applied for hosting, and in June 2006 IOC's Executive Board reduced the number to three candidate cities: Sochi, Salzburg in Austria and Pyeongchang in South Korea. In the deciding meeting in Guatemala, Sochi was elected in the second round of voting with 51 votes ahead of Pyeongchang with 47 votes.

The Winter Olympics in Sochi was an arrangement with a short distance between the olympic activities. Competitions took place in two areas: a Coastal Cluster by the Black Sea, and a Mountain Cluster in the northwest of the Caucasus mountain range. A newly constructed rail link secured transport between the two areas in around 30 minutes. All sports facilities in the two areas were new, built specifically for the Winter Olympics.

In the Coastal Cluster sporting facilities were located in Sochi Olympic Park by the Black Sea in Imeretinskaya Valley. The Fisht Olympic Stadium with a capacity of 40,000 spectators, was the centerpiece in the Olympic Park and here the opening and closing ceremonies as well as all medal ceremonies took place. Furthermore the park hosted facilities for all skating competitions, ice hockey and curling. The facilities for alpine skiing, the nordic skiing disciplines, the sliding events, biathlon, snowboarding and freestyle skiing were positioned in the Krasnaya Polyana mountains.

The time up to the opening of the Olympics was marked by a public debate, especially in western media, on a number of controversial issues, including the enormous cost of the Olympic facilities, the Russian organizers heavy-handed treatment of the residents of the area and the Russian legislation on homosexuality. In addition there were specific terrorist threats against the games prior to the opening. The absence of a number of western state leaders was noted at the opening ceremony on February 7 at the Fisht Olympic Stadium.

The Olympic flame had an unusually long journey before it reached the opening ceremony. The fire was lit in the ruins of the Temple of Hera in Olympia, Greece, in September 2013. After coming to Russia 1400 torch bearers carried the flame around all parts of the Russian country - including a journey deep into the Baikal lake and up to the space station MIR. At the opening ceremony the flame was carried around the stadium by three of Russia's recent sports profiles, tennis player Sharapova, track and field athlete Isinbayeva and gymnast Kabaeva before the Olympic flame at the stadium was lit by two of the legends in Russian winter sports, figure skater Irina Rodnina and ice hockey goalkeeper Vladislav Tretyak. The official opening of the Winter Olympics was declared by Russian president Vladimir Putin in the presence of IOC's new president, German Thomas Bach, who in 2013 had replaced the Belgian Jacques Rogge as president.

As for all other Winter Olympics weather conditions were essential for the competitions in Sochi. Sochi is located in the subtropical climate zone, and in the coastal area, where all competitions were held indoors, there was a pleasant spring weather with temperatures around 15 degrees celsius. Weather in the mountains was clear and with warm temperatures almost every day. The Russians had huge amounts of snow in stock and there was never a shortage of snow. The snow was generally soft, a matter that put great demands on the athletes and especially in relation to lubrication of skies. Apart from a few postponements due to fog organizers succeeded in keeping the program as planned.

Generally everything functioned as it should in the Sochi Winter Olympics. At the closing ceremony IOC's new president Thomas Bach characterized the Games as "an extraordinary success," and everything concerning stadiums, competitions, transport, internet, etc. functioned as planned. A lack of public enthusiasm about the arrangement was however visible during the Games - possibly as a result of the heavy security measures surrounding the Games.

There were many notable sporting performances in the Sochi Olympics. With two gold medals Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjørndalen had collected a total of 13 Olympic medals in his career, including eight gold medals, and this positioned him as the all-time most winning athlete in the Winter Olympics. His compatriot, cross-country skier Marit Bjørgen, won three gold medals in Sochi raising her collection to 10 Olympic medals. Thus she became the most successful female athlete of all time at the Winter Olympics. Also, Holland's dominance in speed skating was a remarkable achievement. The Dutch won eight gold medals in twelve events.

Host nation Russia was the most successful nation at the Winter Games in Sochi ahead of Norway - after a modest start for both nations in the first week of the Games.