Russian resort Sochi wins battle for 2014 Winter Olympics

GUATEMALA CITY (AFP) - President Vladimir Putin played the star role as the Black Sea resort of Sochi won the battle for the 2014 Winter Olympics on Thursday, bringing the event to Russia for the first time.

Sochi, where the Russian president has an official residence, beat the South Korean resort of Pyeongchang by four votes in a ballot Wednesday, bringing new agony to the Asian contender which was also second in the race for the 2010 Games.

Putin spoke in English for what is believed to be the first time in public to state Sochi's case to the International Olympic Committee's executive board.

Pumped up by eight hours of music and pyrotechnics, a crowd of 10,000 on a central square in Sochi erupted when a screen showed IOC president Jacques Rogge announcing their victory.

In Pyeongchang, many shed tears as South Korea's leading alpine resort lost its second bid to host the Winter Olympics.