Steven Lee column: Russia on a roll

FORMER Winter Olympics STEVEN LEE writes in an exclusive column that this is becoming the Olympics he hoped it would.

FOR most, being at an Olympics is a life changing experience. Young athletes get a look at the big time, seasoned athletes shine brightly and the best of the best take what’s humanly possible to a whole new level.

The same can be said for the host city and country, and even more so this time round as Russia and Russians open themselves up to the world.

Before the Sydney Olympics, we Aussies didn’t really embrace the idea of presenting ourselves, our national psyche and somewhat immature culture to the world.

I got a sense that pre-Games collectively we were pretty nervous about it all. Perhaps we’d bitten off more than we could chew. I mean, hosting the Olympics is a big deal and with the whole world watching. It would have been embarrassing if we stuffed it up.

In true Aussie fashion we talked ourselves down. We didn’t need international press to rubbish the organising committee, Games preparation, the city. We took care of all that in-house.

In the end, to our joy and amazement (and a truck load of good will and hard work), it was emphatically called “the best Games ever”. How chuffed were we?

News_Rich_Media: Aerial skier Lydia Lassila heroically takes Bronze for Australia.

We are now deep into the XXII Winter Olympic Games in Russia and the hosts are doing everything right to gain the same accolade.

Olympics are about sport, and the sport has been nothing short of sensational. They are also about the people who deliver them to us, and the Russians have been extraordinary.

The first few days, it was hard to get a smile and a ‘hello’, which sadly I kind of expected, as that’s the Russia we have had drummed into us from Western media and movies.

What a difference a week makes. As we all relax and get to know one another, the Russians have found their smiles. In fact they are beaming. They are talkative, fun, open and energetic. Very much like the Sydney Games, you can see a collective confidence growing through what is being delivered, and just how pumped they are to have the Games and the rest of the world in their country.

News_Rich_Media: Australian snowboarder Torah Bright celebrates her Winter Olympic silver medal in the women's half pipe.

You can build the kick-arse venue, however if the host and staff aren’t welcoming and fun, it won’t be any fun. The Russians have certainly built the kick-arse venue, and are hosting it with great style and a growing sense of warmth, openness and fun. I’m loving it!

On the sporting side, our team is performing super well. There have been so many great results — Britt and Matt in the moguls, Anna’s amazing but heartbreaking fourth in the slopestyle and Russ going big without an AC in his knee. There were also PBs for alpine skier Greta Small and of course our elusive first medal to Torah!

The new sports have been sensational, even on those much-maligned courses. The traditional sports are jumping out of your TVs in stunning HD with super slo-mo, amazing angles and inside images never before seen.

It’s winter sports being showcased at its absolute best. Hope you’re all enjoying it as much as me.

Steven Lee is an Olympian and Network Ten commentator

2014 Sochi Games only on Ten