Putin vows to show new Russia to world via Sochi Olympics

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Sochi Olympics will offer a chance to the world to see a new Russia.

"I would like the participants, fans, journalists and all those who watch the Games on TV and follow them through the media to see a new Russia, see its face and its possibilities, and take a fresh and unbiased look at the country," Putin told Russian and foreign reporters in an recent interview which was published fully on Sunday.

The Winter Games will bring about "positive results and it will help Russia to build up relations with its partners around the world," Putin noted.

Hosting the major sports event successfully has nothing to do with his personal ambitions, Putin said, adding it was in the interests of the nation and its people. "It certainly gives me great pleasure to see us do this work, but again, not because of any ambitions."

According to the president, sports events like world championships, European championships and the Olympics encourage people, especially young people to "take up sports, promote mass sport participation," which would have a positive impact on the nation's health and makes sports "popular, interesting and trendy, " he said.

Meanwhile, the Olympics would give Russia a chance to regain its lost pride following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the bloody military actions in Caucasus in the past few years, Putin said.

Russia will prove to the world that its people can unite together, deliver large-scale projects on time with high-standards, including not only stronger defense potential but also progress in the humanitarian sphere, he added.

"I believe that all this is a step in the right direction, as it strengthens the nation's morale, as well as its social and healthcare sectors, and creates preconditions for future development," Putin said.