Turin 2006

10.02.2006 - 26.02.2006

TURIN 2006, Italy Dates: 10 to 26 February 2006. Participation: 80 NOCs, 2,509 athletes (959 women, 1,550 men), 84 events, 7 sports, 18,000 volunteers, 9,408 media representatives (2,688 written press, 6,720 broadcasters). Olympic oath (athletes): Giorgio Rocca, alpine skiing. Olympic oath (officials): Fabio Bianchetti, International Skating Union (ISU). Lighting of the Olympic cauldron: Stefania Belmondo, cross country skiing. Official opening by: President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. Emblem: it represents the silhouette of the Mole Antonelliana, a building and historical monument with an unmistakable silhouette. This emblem also represents a mountain of ice crystals, a reference to the natural elements of the Winter Games. In this way, the emblem passes on a message of exchange and interaction between the Alpine communities and the great city in Piedmont. Mascots: “Neve” and “Gliz” were also inspired by the natural elements essential to the Winter Games: snow and ice. They are affectionate and warm, and come to life through the passion that is so characteristic of Italy. “Neve”, who is round and inspired by snow, is dressed in red, while “Gliz” is squarer, wears a blue outfit and represents ice. Olympic venues: Bardonecchia (snowboard), Pinerolo (curling), Pragelato (Nordic combined, ski jumping and cross country skiing), Cesana-Pariol (luge and bobsleigh), Cesana-San Sicario (biathlon), San Sicario-Fraiteve (women’s Alpine skiing), Sauze d’Oulx (aerials), and Sestriere (men’s Alpine skiing). Turin hosted speed skating, short-track, figure skating and ice hockey, as well as the opening, closing and medal presentation ceremonies. Fifty years after the Games of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy hosted the Winter Games for a second time, in the city of Turin, capital of the Piedmont region. The Alpine events took place to the west of the city in the resorts of Val di Suza and Val di Chisone, near the French border. These Games were the occasion for the general public to discover new events, such as snowboard cross, team speed skating races and biathlon group start. With a record 80 NOCs participating, these Games included athletes from Albania, Madagascar and Ethiopia participating for the first time. Latvia won the first Winter medal in its history. France won its first medal in cross country skiing, and Finland its first medal in Alpine skiing. Source : Factsheets, https://stillmed.olympics.com/media/Documents/Olympic-Games/Factsheets/The-Olympic-Winter-Games.pdf To find out more, you can consult the resources of the Olympic Studies Centre, https://library.olympics.com/default.aspx?_lg=en-GB