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Last Updated: Friday, 23 February 2007, 21:33 GMT

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Resurgent Russia's Olympic task
With International Olympic Committee inspectors visiting Sochi, Russia's candidate for the 2014 Winter Olympics, James Rodgers reports on how one of the country's warmest cities encapsulates President Putin's hopes for modern Russia.


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Is the gap between plans and reality too far to bridge?

"They'll be giving it a good clean before it lands in the Olympic city," said the passenger sitting across the aisle. He was looking through the window at a mechanical arm spraying the wing of the aircraft.

Actually, the plane's wings were being de-iced before take-off.

It was -15C at Moscow airport. It was +8C when we landed in Sochi.

The remark - joke or misunderstanding - reflected the sense of importance which Russia attaches to its bid for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

You wouldn't think that a country known for the severity of its winters would choose its warmest town to go for the games - but that's what is happening.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6389821.stm