By Duncan Mackay British Sports Internet Writer of the Year March 18 - Vladimir Putin (pictured) is being urged to reprise his successful role in bringing the 2014 Olympics to Sochi and personally lead Russia's bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup in December.

But a flying visit to Guatemala City on the eve of the vote was instrumental in persuading members of

By Duncan Mackay March 7 - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (pictured) has demanded to know why the country spent so much money for so little success at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver and how they can avoid being embarrassed again at Sochi in 2014.

with having won for Russia with his appearance at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote in Guatemala

January 1 - South Korea has won the right to host the 20th WTF World Taekwondo Championships in 2011 in the ancient city of Gyeongju.

  The seven newly appointed Council members are Maria Borello Castillo of Guatemala; Coleman C.

January 1 - South Korea has won the right to host the 20th WTF World Taekwondo Championships in 2011 in the ancient city of Gyeongju.

  The seven newly appointed Council members are Maria Borello Castillo of Guatemala; Coleman C.

November 19 - Pyeongchang 2018 have asked the South Korean Government to pardon Lee Kun-hee (pictured), the former Samsung Group chairman whose conviction for tax fraud has led to him being suspended as member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), so he can help lead their campaign to host the Winter Games.

  They also came close to winning the Games when the vote for the 2014 Olympics was held in Guatemala

November 19 - Pyeongchang 2018 have asked the South Korean Government to pardon Lee Kun-hee (pictured), the former Samsung Group chairman whose conviction for tax fraud has led to him being suspended as member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), so he can help lead their campaign to host the Winter Games.

  They also came close to winning the Games when the vote for the 2014 Olympics was held in Guatemala

November 19 - Pyeongchang 2018 have asked the South Korean Government to pardon Lee Kun-hee (pictured), the former Samsung Group chairman whose conviction for tax fraud has led to him being suspended as member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), so he can help lead their campaign to host the Winter Games.

  They also came close to winning the Games when the vote for the 2014 Olympics was held in Guatemala

October 27 - Sochi's preparations to host the 2014 Winter Olympics have been praised by Jacques Rogge, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

  The Russian Black Sea resort, which was awarded the 2014 Games at the IOC Session in Guatemala

October 27 - Sochi's preparations to host the 2014 Winter Olympics have been praised by Jacques Rogge, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

  The Russian Black Sea resort, which was awarded the 2014 Games at the IOC Session in Guatemala

October 27 - Sochi's preparations to host the 2014 Winter Olympics have been praised by Jacques Rogge, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

  The Russian Black Sea resort, which was awarded the 2014 Games at the IOC Session in Guatemala

October 27 - Sochi's preparations to host the 2014 Winter Olympics have been praised by Jacques Rogge, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

  The Russian Black Sea resort, which was awarded the 2014 Games at the IOC Session in Guatemala

By Duncan Mackay in Sochi   October 14 - Dmitry Chernyshenko, the chief executive of Sochi 2014, has promised that Russia will deliver a Winter Olympics to make Vladimir Putin (pictured) proud.

2007 when, as then President, he travelled to the International Olympic Committee Session in Guatemala

By Duncan Mackay in Sochi   October 14 - Dmitry Chernyshenko, the chief executive of Sochi 2014, has promised that Russia will deliver a Winter Olympics to make Vladimir Putin (pictured) proud.

2007 when, as then President, he travelled to the International Olympic Committee Session in Guatemala

By Duncan Mackay in Sochi   Sochi is the Russian Riviera, the brochures claim. Sand and pebble beaches stretch nearly 20 miles along the Black Sea coast where you can swim in the sea from April through until October, and ski on the nearby slopes from October into May. The semi-tropical weather allows for a lush terrain found nowhere else in Russia.   Once a sleepy Soviet-era ski resort in the Caucasus mountains, near Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's summer residence, it is now undergoing probably the biggest change that a Russian city has ever seen in peace-time. Everywhere you look there are cranes,...

Having been instrumental in Sochi being given the Games, after he travelled to Guatemala City to

By Duncan Mackay in Sochi   Sochi is the Russian Riviera, the brochures claim. Sand and pebble beaches stretch nearly 20 miles along the Black Sea coast where you can swim in the sea from April through until October, and ski on the nearby slopes from October into May. The semi-tropical weather allows for a lush terrain found nowhere else in Russia.   Once a sleepy Soviet-era ski resort in the Caucasus mountains, near Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's summer residence, it is now undergoing probably the biggest change that a Russian city has ever seen in peace-time. Everywhere you look there are cranes,...

Having been instrumental in Sochi being given the Games, after he travelled to Guatemala City to