Not good enough: Russia seeks Olympic edge

The joy of international athletic competition in a beautiful Olympic setting was not enough for Russia.

Disappointment over the country's performance at the Vancouver Winter Olympics will result in some changes before the next Winter Games to be held in Sochi, Russia, in 2014.

On Thursday, the head of the Russian Olympic Committee, Leonid Tyagachev, resigned, citing the team's "unexpectedly" lackluster showing in Vancouver: Russia won three golds and 15 medals overall — the fewest since it began competing in 1956.

Mr. Tyagachev had little choice. Speaking Monday on state television, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev referred to Russia's Olympic officials when he said: "The people responsible, or some of those responsible for the preparations, should do the manly thing and make the appropriate announcement. If they're lacking in decisiveness, we'll help them."

Whether competing as part of a Soviet team or a post-Soviet unified team, Russia's Olympians finished first or second in the overall medal count at 10 consecutive Winter Games until 1992, Bloomberg News noted.

When the Russian men's hockey team lost to Canada 7-3, the Siberian city of Tomsk held a moment of silence to "mourn" the passing of Russia's former sports glory, Bloomberg reported.

And Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said earlier: "We must make a serious analysis and draw conclusions. We need to change the situation and create the conditions for a (successful) performance at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi."

Or else.