What Sochi has done is open up a shot at hosting the Winter Olympics to hundreds of wonderful towns in semi-tropical regions across the world. (Not to mention here in the good ole USA!)
This means the next Winter Olympics might be held in Tallahassee, or Tampa! Santa Monica leaps to mind, with the skiing and other cold weather type stuff held on Mt. Baldy, a mere 80 miles east. El Paso?
They are just as close to really good snow as Sochi and already have wonderful hockey rinks. But remember, Sochi, (The Rodina's Answer to Asbury Park, NJ) also offers the chance, once you actually get to the slopes, to the ski biathlon guys to shoot at live terrorists rather than stationary targets.
Question:
What’s the difference between Sochi and Las Vegas, that has skiing just an hour away?