Via AFP:
President Vladimir Putin acknowledged Monday that Russia had taken a risk in hosting the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi but insisted the country pulled off the feat of showing a new face to the world.
After a build-up dogged by concerns over Russia's human rights record and an alarming race against the clock to finish construction on time, the Games themselves won gushing praise from the International Olympic Committee.
The event wound up on Sunday with a beautifully pitched closing ceremony and Russia sitting pretty on top of the medals table with 13 golds.
"We all took a risk, ...
