Stay-away Russian leaders will not tolerate under-achievement in Sochi

From Sportsbeat staff, in Vancouver

 FOR all the ridicule they have received for attempting to own the podium, if it weren't for Canada's view that all medals are equal, the host nation would have achieved their goal. The myriad of Sochi 2014 officials in Vancouver had better be taking note.

DOWN AND OUT: Russian goaltender Evgeny Nabokov cuts a forlorn figure as Canada demolish the reigning world champions in Vancouver (Getty Images)

At the time of writing, Canada have collected 12 gold medals - nine more than their Russian counterparts, who will give a sneak preview of what to expect in Sochi at tomorrow's handover ceremony.

Don't expect any tongue-in-cheek statements along the lines of ping-pong (or it's winter equivalent) coming home, Mother Russia is too proud for that.

But while Prime Minister Gordon Brown, albeit red-faced at the Mayor of London's imbecilic flag-toting, was in Beijing in 2008, for all the Russian officials swarming around Vancouver, the two that matter are conspicuous by their absence.

President Dmitry Medvedev has shunned the trip to British Columbia, as has sports-mad Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Their absence and Russia's below-par performance is not coincidence.

The Russian Bear has a particularly sore head, such is the beating the 2014 hosts have taken in Vancouver and such failures do not go down well in Moscow.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sochi 2014 president and CEO, insisted he didn't know the reasons behind Medvedev and Putin's absence from Vancouver, but it is safe to say a repeat performance in four years will not do.

"I cannot comment on the travel schedule of our political leaders," he said.

"Since the very beginning of our bid we enjoyed full government support and President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin are personally and deeply involved in the preparation for the Games.

"Any disappointment in the Russian team's performance will be addressed by the proper authorities.

"As far as I know our authorities are running a special dedicated programme to reach the level of preparation of the athletes to ensure they can reach their best. So let's wait. We'll see in Sochi."

Russian under-achievement in Vancouver is not easily explained but it has been evident.

Evgeni Plushenko, a supposed shoe-in to capture the figure skating title, had to settle for silver while the men's ice hockey team, the current world champions, were sent packing by Canada.

In Turin four years ago, Russia secured eight medals, but have been in steady decline since the start of the post-Soviet era.

Perhaps the current athletes, living on past-Soviet glories, are yet to feel the benefits of Putin's sporting renaissance in Russia.

The fact that International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge felt compelled to single Russia out when reiterating his anti-doping stance, suggests a darker reason however.

Either way, improvements must be made in the next four years and with all venues in the alpine/sub-tropical Black Sea resort being built from scratch, Sochi organisers are certainly thinking big.

"Tomorrow will be a highly significant day for the city of Sochi and for all of Russia," added Chernyshenko.

"The iconic flag will fly proudly in Sochi for the four years before the opening of Russian's first-ever Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

"The handover ceremony will feature Russian superstars, Olympians, opera, ballet and even a supermodel.

"It's the next stage of what we have been planning for since December 2009.

"We're well on track. In some areas we're even ahead of our ambitions.

"All the venues are now under construction and we are committed to having them ready two years before the Games. 

"We're building everything from scratch, really from nothing. That is why we need extensive programmes to own our venues."

And that's just for starters. Russia will demand home success and will not stand for the torrent of criticism that has come Canada's way in Vancouver.

But Chernyshenko insists lessons have been learnt.

"We bought 150 professionals here to watch and learn," he added. "Our official conclusions of best practices will come at the debriefing in Sochi in June.

"There are two things. Early planning is crucial to success, especially developing contingency plans for weather and transportation. These are the people who can deliver on Plan B. They face and can mitigate any challenges that arise.

"Also the friendly, fun and electric atmosphere on the streets. We want to do this in Sochi too, with a Russian flavour and Russian hospitality."