The IOC vote went to the 2nd round with Salzburg going out in the first round. Sochi then triumphed over the Korean city of PyeongChang by a narrow margin of four votes. The Sochi bid was boosted by the personal intervention of Russian president Vladimir Putin.
“We are overjoyed” said Chernyshenko. “It is with a huge emotion that we are expressing our gratefulness to the International Olympic Committee and the whole International Sports Movement. You have made today a historic choice. You have decided to play a historic role in Russia’s future. The Games will help Russia’s transition as a young democracy. Millions of lives are going to be transformed by the fantastic power of the Olympic Games.
“Our thoughts go immediately to the 130 million Russians who have passionately supported Sochi 2014 in this extraordinary two-year journey. Thank you. You have demonstrated to the entire world that Russia has become a strong, passionate and welcoming member of the community of the nations.
“The Olympic family has placed its faith in Russia to deliver the 2014 Winter Games and we will not let them down. The Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will mark the history. This will be a memorable event for the whole Olympic Family, the athletes and the spectators.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved with the bid, including President Putin, Sports Minister Vyacheslav Fetisov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Government, Alexander Zhukov, Viktor Kolodyazhny Mayor of Sochi, Alexander Tkachev - Governor of the Krasnodar Region and the rest of our team and ambassadors who have all played such an integral role in helping Sochi achieve our dream.
“I also want to express my congratulations to all the other candidate cities, who have mounted exceptional campaigns.
“Russia will now put its greatest strengths at the service of the Sochi 2014 Games. Sophisticated, ambitious and visionary, Sochi 2014 will truly be a 21st Century Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games”.
