 Poster: A snowHead
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This thread is re-headed. Scroll down for latest news and comment
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The president of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, will urge Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi to ease the country's tough doping laws during the Turin Winter Olympics, according to a report by USA Today.
The request will come three months before the Turin Winter Olympics, because Italian law provides criminal sanctions against athletes who violate the rules. The IOC imposes suspensions or disqualifications.
The report suggests that an accommodation may, indeed, be reached between the Italian government and IOC. It is said that the Games' hosts fear police raids on athletes' quarters.
Click here for the USA Today report.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Fri 14-10-05 23:22; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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On physical fronts the preparations seem to be going OK. Jean-Claude Killy, on a recent inspection of the Games' facilities for the IOC, declared himself happy with progress. An earlier controversy concerning accommodation for athletes, raised by a German Olympic official, appears to have blown over.
The budget, however, is reported to be under stress. The Associated Press said yesterday that a late £11 million budget cut was being threatened on the organisers - part of a clamp-down by the Italian government on public expenditure.
One concern is sluggish domestic ticket sales. It was reported last month (again by AP) that only 1 in 4 of 460,000 tickets sold to date were in the hands of Italian spectators. A budget cut could affect an urgent publicity campaign which has been planned to boost the demand for tickets.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Italian Olympic Committee president Gianni Petrucci is quoted by Corriere della Sera as saying that he was "surprised and worried" over the possible cuts to the budget for the Games.
"I had the feeling that everyone, from the government to the opposition, was in agreement over the importance of the Olympics," Petrucci told . "A cut like this so soon before the games start does not permit adjustments to the schedule."
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If, as threatened, the ticket advertising campaign isn't funded then the Games may be poorly attended. Half-empty stadiums communicate a particularly negative image for the Olympics and would not communicate a positive image for Italy's national spirit and support of the Games.
In the context of the overall budget of £2.08 billion for the Turin Olympics, the threatened publicity campaign is costed at £4.18 million.
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Here's the official morale-boosting word on ticket sales from the Turin 2006 organisers:
http://www.ansa.it/torino2006/notizie/notiziari/english/20051010162633665907.html
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Bit difficult to go and spectate if you can't get a place to stay. Sure we had earlier reports of dire shortages of available beds after the athletes, coaches, officials and the members of the media had all been found beds. In fact there was even doubt about enough capacity for that lot. It will be a shame if some events are poorly attended but if the area has failed to provide the needful what can the average punter do about it ??? Answer - stay at home and watch TV.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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But I guess that Turin has a huge catchment of potential day-trippers. Presumably that's where the organisers would like to draw their spectators.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The German Ski Federation DSV has stated its ambitions for Turin: to stand first or second in the league of medal winners in skiing. To achieve this they want the national team to win at least 15 medals.
China View reminds readers, in this report, that the Germans won 18 skiing medals in 2002 at Salt Lake City.
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Surely by wanting relaxation of the doping laws, the IOC is basically admitting it expects certain individuals to be guilty of breaking the laws and is trying to protect them? Would it not be a better image to give were they willing to say that cheating is totally unacceptable and if you do it, you are out on your ear and no longer worthy of our protection?
Adam
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| kuwait_ian wrote: |
| Bit difficult to go and spectate if you can't get a place to stay. |
I can confirm that anecdotally. Some friends of mine were complaining just two days ago that they have great tickets (Mens DH and Canada ice-hockey) but they are thinking of not going because they cannot find accommodation, having tried several specialist travel agencies.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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The Telegraph has more on this problem today. According to their report, the tour operators Crystal and Thomson have even been forced to switch charter flights to alternative destinations because the Olympics organisers have block-booked so many beds they would normally use.
Here's the Telegraph report.
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We've got accommodation just 30 minutes drive from Claviere and about 45 mins to Sauze and Sestriere look here http://www.alpsun.com . Come on down! 10% discount for Snowheads and £10 to the site for each booking from a Snowy-head.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Latest on the dispute between the IOC and the Italian government over their strict anti-doping laws (see opening posting etc.). Ski Racing is reporting that there is a continuing impasse, with Italian ministers refusing to back down. The president of the IOC is reportedly "very worried".
Here is the Ski Racing report.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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There still seems to be reasonably priced flights to Turin during Olympic fortnight. Perhaps people are being put off by the Games. Our apartment guests are flying to Grenoble.
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The official website of the Turin Games is reporting big interest from "15,000 former Soviets". They're also interested in the relationship of the city to the mountains, in view of their candidature for the 2014 Winter Olympics - the Russian city of Sochi, on the Black Sea, is a potential host.
The Russians are expressing "hope" that the transport system in Turin delivers the athletes and their supporters to the event locations efficiently. This report from ansa.it.
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26 October: 'Gold Olympic skier slams IOC over anti-doping policy' - see this snowHeads thread
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You know it makes sense.
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Expect bigger excitement from freestyle skiing at the Turin Games, particularly in the moguls. Here are some comments from Peter Judge, chief executive of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association:
"There have been some significant changes to the jumping in moguls. There can be quantum leaps in sports between Olympics. It will appear significantly different and more awe-inspiring. The scope of courses has changed to accommodate this and people away for four years will not recognize it."
More on this from ABC News.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I already bought tickets for the freestyle on spec....now I'm even more excited. Thanks David!
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Poster: A snowHead
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The Olympic torch will be carried to Turin by most famous Italian modes of transport, including gondolas on Venice's Grand Canal, marathon runners (among 10,000 torchbearers who will each carry the flame), a Ferrari, horses across the Alps ... and even a ski jumper.
For that reason the torch is being built to exacting technical specifications, ensuring that it remains lit.
This report from Slam! Sports.
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FAQ
