Putin Games at any cost?
High stakes and high costs as most expensive Winter Olympics gets underway in Russia.
The most expensive Olympic Games in history are getting underway in Russia and has cost more than all the previous Winter Olympics combined – eclipsing even the amount spent by China on the Summer Games in 2008.
The 22nd Winter Olympics in Sochi has been dogged by allegations of corruption in the tendering and construction process and the Games have also drawn controversy over human rights issues and a law banning gay propaganda.
So, are they the source of national pride, promoted by the President? Or a sporting spectacle at any cost?
Presenter: Adrian Finighan
Guests: Sergey Markov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin
Michael Weiss, a fellow at the Institute of Modern Russia
Owen Gibson, chief sports correspondent for the Guardian newspaper