2006 WINTER OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC GAMES

 

It was expected that over 2500 athletes would take part in the 2006 games in Turin, participating in the various winter Olympic disciplines and competing for around 82 medals. Something like 2000 officials and judges and over 9000 from the media were also be in Turin.

The last time Italy hosted the Winter Olympics was in 1956.

Turin's organising committee is known as TOROC and has been busy promoting and encouraging the whole of Italy to get behind the Winter Olympic Games held between 10th and 26th February 2006 in the northern town of Turin, high in the mountains in the Piemonte region. The Winter Paralympics will follow from 10th to 19th March 2006.

April 2004 saw the innovative "Openvillage" start its tour of Italy to promote the games. A tour which lasted until November 2005.

The idea was planned with the involvement of a number of organisations and local authorities and will include visits to schools in areas hosting the village.

The "Village" included a large inflatable dome where, thanks to special effects, visitors were able to enjoy a fantastic, multi-sensory experience of many of the winter games disciplines:with skiers and skaters appearing to come to life all around them. There were also stands where official promotional merchandise could be bought, as well as various quizzes and competitions to test the Olympic knowledge of visitors. From time to time,visitors had the chance to meet athletes and sporting champions, past and present. The Village was open at the weekends during its scheduled stops across Italy.

By giving the public the opportunity to see what the games are all about, it was hoped to whip up enthusiasm and support throughout the whole of Italy, especially during the final lead-up to the games.

The Olympic Torch also made a circuitous, 2 month long, journey across Italy's 20 regions;again to try and involve the whole country, covering around 11 thousand kilometres and involving over 10 thousand torch bearers

The mascots for the 2005 Turin Olympic Games were a snowball called Neve and an ice cube called Gliz and the emblem chosen for the Turin games was a modern depiction of the spirit of the Olympics.