President Vladimir Putin on Friday stopped by both USA House and Canada House in Sochi's Olympic Park to visit the teams and enjoy some red wine and backslapping.
Putin spent about 30 minutes in USA House, in which time he spoke to a number of athletes and team officials, thanking them for their support for the Games.
USOC chairman Larry Probst in turn complimented Putin on the Games as well as the work of the volunteers in Sochi, describing them as "fantastic and full of enthusiasm," Interfax reported.
Putin was offered wine, and opted for a glass of red.
"The wine is good," he said.
Hockey was one of the main topics of conversation, with the Russian men's team taking on their U.S. counterparts in Group A on Saturday, and Putin hinted that he may even attend the match, which starts at 4:30 p.m.
USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said the team was delighted by the visit and added that nothing political was discussed.
"All we talked about was sport and that's appropriate given that that's all we do," Blackmun told USA Today.
During his next stop-off, Putin told the Canadian sportsmen and women that he hopes Russia meets reigning champions Canada in the final of the Olympic men's hockey tournament.
The Canadians responded with chants of "Russia! Russia!"
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
