A boy stands in front of the paintings by artist Alexei Sergiyenko at his exhibition "President. The kindest person" marking the 60th birthday of Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the Flacon design workshop in Moscow on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Russia's President Vladimir Putin turned 60 on Sunday, the official retirement age in the country he has dominated for the past 12 years, as his supporters celebrated his leadership and machismo.

This year's birthday, though marked by the usual praise from high officials and friendly heads of state, is the first since Putin began to face regular mass opposition protests late last year.

And while he has more than five years still ahead of him as the country's leader since his triumphant comeback to a third presidential term, he has to deal with a tighter economy and a worsening image of Russia abroad.

Putin flew to his native northwestern city of Saint Petersburg to spend the day with "friends and family," according to his spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

His supporters went out of their way to wish him the best, and his birthday figured prominently in each newscast of the day on Russia's state television channels.

"Your name is a symbol of a wise politician and a strong leader in Russia and the world," Saint Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko wrote to the president in an open letter. "You returned to Russians their confidence in tomorrow."

Molodaya Gvardiya, a pro-Kremlin youth movement, posted a video on its website of young women assembling to greet an arriving Putin with a cake after participating in various activities associated with the Russian leader.

One, wearing a "Putin" hockey jersey, is shown scoring a goal in a USA-Putin match before receiving a text message saying, "I'm on my way," presumably from the president. She then winks at the camera, smiling seductively.

Putin's sports hobbies are also featured in a rare up-close-and-personal special made by the NTV channel, to air Sunday during prime time. The filmmakers trailed Putin for a week, even taking the camera to a swimming pool.

Putin has famously styled himself as a macho sportsman, swimming the butterfly in wild Siberian rivers, fly-fishing shirtless and riding on horseback for the cameras.

"For some he symbolizes stability, for others, a lack of change, and for yet others - a source of inspiration," Vedomosti newspaper wrote this week, publishing photos of Putin souvenirs, from porcelain busts to Greek vases, as evidence that his political dominance has created a whole industry.

Russian bloggers snickered Sunday that Putin's image of a young and energetic leader no longer corresponded with his age.

"Lenin at 52 was nicknamed 'Grandpa Lenin,'" wrote one Twitter user, referring to Russia's revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin, who died at 53.

Putin's opposition also made jabs at the president's age, with one rally planned for the day called "Let's Send Grandpa to Retirement!"