ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> <br />Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to Austria House on Sunday evening (Feb 9) after Matthias Mayer won the men's downhill alpine skiing gold medal earlier in the day.<br/> <br />Putin greeted members of the Austrian Olympic team as well as members of the public before giving a toast and sharing a drink with team officials.<br/> <br />The Russian president also congratulated Austria on their first gold medal of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games.<br/> <br />Mayer became the first Austrian men's Olympic downhill winner since Fritz Strobl in 2002, and one of a series of outsiders who have emerged from relative obscurity to capture the coveted downhill title.<br/> <br />Putin has staked his reputation on staging a safe and successful Games, despite threats from Islamist militants to disrupt them. The Games are the most expensive in history, costing $51 billion.
