Olympics-Smile! Russians learn hospitality before Sochi Games | chicagotribune.com

It may not come naturally to all Russians and, in the run-up to the Winter Olympics, Sochi hotel managers are getting crash courses in how to smile. In line with President Vladimir Putin's efforts to show Russia's modern face at the $50-billion Sochi Games, an initiative has been launched to break down enduring stereotypes of Russians as cold, severe and unsmiling.