“Exactly one year before the long awaited Sochi Olympics, Vladimir Putin went to Sochi personally to see how the construction is going. After receiving a report saying the ski jumps that were supposed to be ready in 2011, are not completed still, while their price has sky-rocketed from 1.2 billion to 8 billion roubles, he commented, “Good for you. Good job”, and then fired the vice president of the Olympic committee. Russian artist Vasily Slonov painted his view of the upcoming games, giving a new interpretation to the adored Russian mascot Cheburashka, and combining officially endorsed stereotypes of Russia with grimmer and less accepted ones”. – Ruskie.info. (Photo by Vasily Slonov)

Girls practice sit-ups during gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School in Shanghai, China, on May 4, 2016. China's sports system has been enormously successful since the country returned to the Olympic fold in 1980, culminating with the host nation topping the medals' table at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. And yet, with the Rio de Janeiro Games less than three months away, the system is beginning to break down due to the shifting demographics of a more prosperous nation. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

Russia's Darya Klishina prepares for the women's long jump qualification during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, August 16, 2016. She might be feeling the pressure of being all alone, but Darya Klishina could yet still win Russia's only athletics medal at the Rio 2016 Games. (Photo by Matt Dunham/AP Photo)

A giant size figure of the United States' goalkeeper Tim Howard is displayed outside a shopping mall in Hong Kong, Thursday, June 12, 2014, to promote the upcoming 2014 World Cup in Brazil. A total of seven 3.5 meters to 4 meters (11 feet 6 inch to 13 feet one inch) tall figures of famous players attract many soccer fans. (Photo by Vincent Yu/AP Photo)

France's defender #07 Sakina Karchaoui (L) and France's forward #11 Kadidiatou Diani (R) celebrate their win at the end of the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group F football match between France and Brazil at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane on July 29, 2023. (Photo by Dan Peled/Reuters)

Uthen Kukheaw of Thailand in action during a Mixed Doubles Bronze match at the Teqball Tour in Qingdao, China on August 6, 2023. (Photo by Alex Plavevski/EPA/EFE)

A fan watches the Group D Tunisia v France match on his phone outside the stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar on November 30, 2022. (Photo by Stephane Mahe/Reuters)

A portrait of Eric Abidal of Lyon prior to the UEFA Champions League Group D match between Olympique Lyonnais and Manchester United at the Municipal de Garland Stadium on September 15, 2004 in Lyon, France.