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Winter Olympics 2006
After 16 days of cutthroat competition, the Winter Olympics 2006 in Turin closed on February 26, 2006. In these series of games, 252 medals were won by 26 nations in a total of 84 events. Seven main sports were played: Biathlon, Bobsleigh, Curling, Ice Hockey, Luge, Skating, and Skiing. A total of 650 referees and judges evaluated 2,600 athletes. There were eight competition sites: Bardonecchia, Pinerolo, Pragelato, Cesana-Pariol, Cesana-San Sicario, Sauze d’Oulx, Sestriere, Torino and two training centres at Claviere and Torre Pellice.
Although several controversies dominated these games, overall it was a mind blowing treat for the lovers of sports all over the world and things only kept getting more exciting as the days progressed.
Here at Young World, we present you with a special report focusing on the highs, lows, chills, and thrills that dominated these Olympics.
The Games have received massive coverage from both electronic and print media. About 10,000 journalists and media personnel were expected to cover the Games. The first five days of the Turin 2006 Olympic Winter Games dominated television ratings in Europe, especially in the host country Italy. Impressive response from the audience was also received from other key markets of the world including USA, Japan and China. Australia, where these Games are non-traditional, also proved to be a lucrative market for the broadcasting of these games. Streaming videos of the events on the internet also registered a significant rise in the main European markets exceeding that of the famous Athens Games.
The first Winter Olympic Games in 1924 saw just four per cent female participation. Since then women seem to have come a long way. For the Games in Salt Lake City in 2002 this percentage was up to about 37 per cent and it was expected to be over 38 per cent for the Games in Turin.
Controversies seem to have become a hallmark of all the Olympic Games and this one was no exception. This one will be remembered mainly for the doping issue that had put many athletes’ respectability as true sportsmen under suspicion. According to the IOC’s policy of zero tolerance against doping, some 1,200 tests were carried out; an increase of 72 per cent as compared to the Games at Salt Lake City. There was also an introduction of blood tests. These tests were carried out from the opening day till the last day of the Games. Despite the strict regulations, there were unpleasant incidents involving doping.
Russia’s Olga Pyleva was stripped of her 15km biathlon silver medal and banned for two years because her tests results turned out to be positive.
Austria dominated the Alpine skiing events much to the surprise of the skiing fans for whom America was a far better competitor. Austria proudly clinched four gold medals and plenty of bronze and silver too.
Michaela Dorfmeister, of Austria, who is retiring at the end of the season, received a very warm farewell at Turin. She had never won an Olympic gold until Turin and in her last Games series when she did, she couldn’t control her tears. It was an emotional farewell to Dorfmeister. Meanwhile her contemporary Hermann Maier, who missed Salt Lake City four years ago after suffering terrible leg injuries in a motorcycle accident, was in full form in Turin. He clinched his well deserved silver in the super-G and bronze in the giant slalom. From Britain, Shelly Rudman proved to be the most shining star in Turin. Her unexpected win of silver medal in the women’s skeleton raised the excitement levels of her British fans.
Now, cheers to the most accomplished woman of this series: Canada’s Cindy Klassen. She won five medals for Canada in speed skating. And the most accomplished man Germany’s Michael Greis took away three biathlon golds and was credited as the man of the Winter Olympics 2006.
In the midst of carnival and circus celebration the president of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, closed the Winter Games. Everyone from the athletes to the judges and from the spectators to the performers seemed jubilated at the enormous success that these games had garnered. Ricky Martin and Andrea Bocelli performed along with 2,350 other performers on the closing days with the breathtaking fireworks in the background.
Despite the concerns of transport problems, unfinished venues and lukewarm response from the Italian public in ticket sale, the Winter Olympics 2006 has been quite a success. The Italians proved to be a warm host and their true passion for sports was clearly evident.
In his closing speech, Rogge wanted to bid farewell to the doping issue along with the Olympics. He said, “The IOC fights untiringly against doping to protect you… I promise we shall continue to fight for a pure and healthy sport.”
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