Putin on charm offensive ahead of Winter Games

Vladimir Putin, rugged outdoorsman and tough- guy Russian president, promoted a cuddly image as his Olympics drew near.

Putin checked in at a reserve for endangered Persian leopards and visited a group of cubs born last summer in the mountains above the growing torrent of activity in Sochi for the Winter Games.

“We’ve decided to restore the population of the Persian leopard because of the Olympic Games,” Putin said.