In Sochi we were expecting this more than in any recent Games but in many ways none of it came to fruition. I cannot recall ever writing phrases such as "Chechen leader Doku Umarov" or "banning propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations", which had permeated my prose of the preceding months.

Like at every Games there were scandals in Sochi but - Pussy Riot whipping and a supposedly racist tweeting Flamelighter aside - these were purely of the sporting variety.

We had rows involving the judging of figure skating finals, concerns over conditions and the difficult and dangerous nature of courses as well as a flurry of doping cases in the latter days of the Games - albeit almost exclusively involving relatively minor stimulants.

In his speech at the Closing Ceremony, Sochi 2014 chief Dmitry Chernyshenko reflected how the Games were "a great moment in Russia's history which will be cherished and passed on to the next generation."

Sochi 2014 will "never be forgotten - this is the new face of Russia - for us, these Games are the best ever," he added. "We did it - we conquered the Olympic summit."

Volunteers at Sochi 2014 have been helpful and efficient but also fun to be around ©ITG



Of course, for all the success of the Games we are not naive enough to think that in this new Russia some old features do not persevere.

We had the aforementioned bout of Cossack whipping inflicted on members of the dissident band Pussy Riot, while today news has broken that seven opposition activists have been imprisoned, for sentences ranging from two and half to four years, for politically protesting in 2012, as the mass of the foreign media corps were otherwise occupied by journeying home.

But as Chernyshenko said we also had huge evidence of this new face of Russia.

It was epitomised best by the mass of workers and volunteers around the Olympic sites - who managed to be friendly, funny and enthusiastic but also highly and surprisingly efficient.

To cite one example: in the Closing Ceremony insidethegames enjoyed the luxury of two tickets but only one of them was tabled which meant one of us was deprived of cabled internet so reliant on the rigours of Wi-Fi - scarcely competent at best and downright unusable at worst.

But after the briefest of protests, common sense prevailed and we were allowed two tables so long as there were enough left for all those who had tickets.

This may sound a rather spurious example but, while rules and procedures are good, so is flexibility and, after experiencing last year's Asian Youth Games in Nanjing, I have a feeling that this common sense and initiative will be the difference between Sochi 2014 and the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympics.

Another example of this was the reaction to the malfunctioning fifth Olympic Ring during the Opening Ceremony. Not only did creative director Konstantin Ernst poke fun of this in the Closing Ceremony but he turned up to the press conference beforehand proudly and satirically sporting the very tee-shirt which illustrated the four Rings and a dot.

A humorous touch I quite honestly felt Russia did not possess.

A brilliant tongue in cheek gesture to emulate the technical glitch of the Opening Ceremony ©Getty Images



Speaking of the Ceremonies, I would say Sochi 2014 got the balance about right. There was history and culture illustrating all things Russian but there was also a focus on youth and the future - together with the humility of the Flame being blown about by a giant polar bear mascot.

In fact, this balance appears a good way to sum up the Games as a whole.

The security was efficient and effective but without being obtrusive and overbearing, the home support was raucous and partisan but without being disrespectful, while the dismissal of press criticism was forthright and sincere but without appearing condescending.

On a trip into downtown Adler in a desperate yet ultimately ill-advised attempt to watch my football team take on the defending champions in the Champions League, I found a town which seemed relatively unblemished and unexcited by the ongoing Games but - as I was told afterwards - I would have found a similar state of affairs had I ventured into parts of London during the last Summer Games.

As an Olympics first-timer I am not in a place to compare these Games with prior ones but after speaking to those who were, I learn that Sochi 2014 is above average at worst and "the best away Games ever" at best - in the words of one Hackney born journalist-cum-Olympic historian columnist for insidethegames anyway...

The table topping Russian team were a highlight of the Games ©Getty Images



So on completion of Sochi 2014 the next Winter Games will be in Pyeongchang in four years time. After the bland and unmemorable nature of their Closing Ceremony cameo yesterday it is fair to say that a lot of work lies ahead. "Where was Gangnam Style?" I hear you cry...

But as we have learnt over the last few weeks, you should never make assumptions and judge a book, or in this case an Olympics, by its cover.  

Pyeongchang does indeed have a lot of work to do but so did Sochi and - when all truth be told - I feel that Sochi will be remembered as a successful Games which exemplified a developing country somewhere along the path to greatness.

Nick Butler is a reporter for insidethegames. To follow him on Twitter click here.