MOSCOW, Aug 7: Russia welcomed its athletes home as heroes on Tuesday after their first Olympics without comrades from former Soviet states or the massive resources the communist superpower once devoted to sporting success. reports Reuter.

But the press, dismayed that Russia came a distant second to the United States in the medals table, sounded a Cold War note by sniping at the Atlanta organisers, alleging dirty tricks over dope tests and warning that Russia would do better next time.

"The overall moral victory went to the Russians, as after the collapse of the USSR there were many who wished to "bury Russian sport.” the liberal newspaper Sevodnya (Today) said.

It described the overturn ing of doping decisions against several Russian team members as a victory over an attempt by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to deprive Russia of medal "by illegal methods.”

Krasnaya Zvezda (Red Star) the official army newspaper said in a headline: "Now the whole world knows the Ru ssian anthem."

President Boris Yeltsin, in an official statement quoted by Interfax news agency, said the team which won 26 gold medals to the United States 44 had "upheld the nation s

glorious sporting traditions ... in an hones sporting contei t.'

The Kremlin leader, unseen in public since before his reelection on July 3. was not among officials who welcomed team members in a low-key ceremony at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.

The sports-mad president is facing gr iwing demands for state funds to help restore some of the prestige that

Soviet athletes won in the Communist era. Russia's performance in team events in Atlanta was disappointing compared to individual successes.

"Steps r.eed to be taken quickly at a state level if we don't want Russia to become a backwater of world sport," Vitaly Smirnov, the president of the Russian Olympic Committee, told Itar-Tass news agency on Sunday.

The Vechernaya Moskva (Evening Moscow) daily said: "This was an American Olympiad — in every sense."

The hosts may have won the most medals, it said, but the programme of the Games had a heavy American accent with the inclusion of new — and distinctly un-Russian — events like baseball and beach volleyball as Olympic sports.

Moskovsky Komsomolets criticised the heavy commercialism of the Atlanta Games.

"In one Olympiad. America has killed two fat birds with one stone: It proved Its mean-

filled its own pockets." the popular newspaper sneered.

Leading sporty daily Sport Express gave the fortnight in Atlanta 10 out of 10 for the quality of competition. But it too slammed the organisers for. among other things, the Athletes Village and the transport system, which got Just one out of 10.