Who else is enthralled by this holiday season’s blockbuster drama, Putin vs. Bach?
It’s a Cold War-era redux starring Vladimir V. Putin, the president of Russia, and Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee — two leaders who answer to no one.
Bach’s reputation, not to mention the credibility of his august organization, was wounded by Russia’s audacious doping program. He has just a short time left to decide how to save face. Putin, who calls the whole thing a Western conspiracy, has all but publicly dared Bach to respond with force.
They are in a standoff, nose-to-nose, shirt sleeves rolled up, each waiting for the other to blink.