(CNN) -- What happens when the Winter Olympics party leaves town? It's a question that is probably giving organizers of the Sochi 2014 Games sleepless nights and, if the example of Lillehammer is anything to go by, some food for thought. Will all the expense be worthwhile? Russia is spending an unprecedented $50 billion on completely revamping its faded Black Sea resort, hoping to turn it into a tourist mecca and hi-tech business destination for decades after next February's 16 days of competition. Can Vladimir Putin's grand planners learn from one of the smallest host venues in Olympic history? Leap of faith
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Small Norwegian town rose to sporting prominence at 1994 Winter Olympics
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Investment in Lillehammer has made it a post-Olympic center of sporting excellence
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$1.2 billion of public money gave boost to town but didn't increase tourism as expected
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Lillehammer set to host second Winter Youth Olympics in 2016
Most, if not all of the last eight host countries of @placeholder have experienced negligible increases in tourist numbers, says Teigland.