Russian city to stage 2014 Winter Olympics - Putin's lobbying effort in Guatemala City seems to impress the IOC members, who select Sochi over South Korean city.

Or would it choose one of the two, Sochi, Russia, and Pyeongchang, South Korea, that want the Winter Olympics to serve themselves as engines for economic or geopolitical change?

The answer? Sochi.

But in a competition where corporate might and clout also were said to be playing a significant role, the only clear-cut part of the secret ballot decision was the result of the IOC's vote Wednesday.

Sochi defeated Pyeongchang, 51 votes to 47, in the final round of a secret ballot by the IOC.

Salzburg had the embarrassment of being eliminated in the first round for the second straight time.

Sochi's victory brings the Winter Games to winter sports power Russia for the first time and rewards Russian President Vladimir Putin's steadfast support of the bid. In his Wednesday speech to IOC members during the Sochi presentation, Putin went so far as to give a guarantee of "real snow" in the mountains above the Black Sea resort.

Just as importantly, Putin assuaged the primary concern about the Sochi bid by guaranteeing all 11 venues would be built. None exist today.

Putin left for Moscow before the result was announced, but his 36 hours in Guatemala obviously had the impact Sochi wanted.

"Putin being here was very important," said French IOC member and former ski champion Jean-Claude Killy. "He worked very hard at it. He was nice. He spoke French -- he never speaks French. He spoke English -- he never speaks English."

Russia athletes have been the leading medal winners at the Winter Olympics in the half-century since they have competed, first for the Soviet Union and then the Russian Republic.

"Russia has contributed a lot to the development of the Olympics and especially to winter sports," Putin said during a Tuesday news conference with Guatemalan President Oscar Berger. "Unfortunately, we have never had the opportunity to host the Winter Olympics."

No longer. Now the Games are going to a city with palm trees and a warm, humid climate that provides the catalyst for heavy snow in mountains only 25 miles away.

A Sochi victory will make many think the IOC's gray eminence, former resident Juan Antonio Samaranch, still was wielding the clout he developed during a 20-year presidential reign that ended six years ago.