1.   Athletes born when the Soviet Union was already dying stood at attention to the strains of the old Soviet anthem, though the words were different now.

2.   Before that, The Internationale had served as the Soviet anthem.

3.   The Soviet anthem blared through the loudspeakers.

4.   They want the old Soviet anthem, the red flag and the hammer and sickle.

5.   Polls show most Russians like the Soviet anthem, Putin said.

6.   But liberal politicians and many leading cultural figures have assailed the reinstatement of the Soviet anthem, saying it invokes the memory of totalitarian rule and political repression.

7.   But they agreed to abandon their criticism this time in response to the reintroduction of the Soviet anthem.

8.   But they agreed to abandon their criticism and back formal approval for the symbols in response to the reintroduction of the Soviet anthem.

9.   Krichevskaya and her husband voted for Russian President Vladimir Putin last year, but said they were disappointed when he restored the Soviet anthem.

10.   Krichevskaya and her husband voted for Russian President Vladimir Putin last year, but said they were disappointed when he restored the music of the old Soviet anthem.