Posted on 02/20/2007 11:57:47 AM PST by NormsRevenge
KRASNAIA POLIANA, Russia (AFP) - A smiling Russian president Vladimir Putin demonstrated his skiing skills while promoting the 2014 Winter Olympic bid by Sochi.
Putin, an advanced skier, made several descents and then posed for photographers with children from the station's skiing school.
Putin said the Black Sea resort was the best candidate.
"Sport is about fighting and lots of surprises," Putin said. "Who will win?. Time will tell but we have good and worthy opponents," before adding: "We have the best bid."
Sochi is in competition with Salzburg, Austria, and Pyeongchang, South Korea, to organise the Games.
An International Olympic Committee evaluation commission arrived on Sunday having visited Pyeongchang - who were runners-up to Canadian candidate Vancouver for the 2010 Games - with a meeting with Putin planned for later on Tuesday and a press conference scheduled for Friday.
The commission will visit Salzburg from March 14 to 17 following their five-day trip to Sochi where they will inspect the existing infrastructure of the venues and the plans for building others.
A report will then be sent to the IOC in June before the final vote in Guatemala City on July 4.
Russian President Vladimir Putin demonstrates his skiing skills while promoting the 2014 Winter Olympic bid by Sochi. The Russian resort is in competition with Salzburg, Austria, and Pyeongchang, South Korea, to organise the Games.(AFP/POOL/Maxim Marmur)
A carnival float shows a paper-mache figure of Russian President Vladimir Putin, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and German Chancellor Angela Merkel during the traditional Rose Monday carnival parade in the western German town of Cologne February 19, 2007. The Rose Monday parades in Cologne, Mainz and Duesseldorf are the highlight of the German street carnival season. REUTERS/Alex Grimm (GERMANY)
Russian President Vladimir Putin and local children prepare to ski down a slope in the Krasnaya Polyana area outside the Black Sea resort of Sochi, southern Russia, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2007. Putin visited the Psekhako Ridge ski area, a newly developed facility in the Krasnaya Polyana area where Russia is proposing holding the snow sports events for the 2014 games. (AP Photo/Sergei Ilnitsky, Pool)
Damn least Vlady didn't break his neck like my Governor ARNOLD LOL!
Listen, you little brats, one more remark like that and it's polonium tea time, comprende?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.