Rejoice all fans of American ice hockey - it's now been a settlement in the dispute between some European hockey nations which casted doubt on the participation of NHL in the upcoming Torino Olympics. The Russians are dissatisfied with a player transfer deal between the NHL and International Ice Hockey Federation that would increase the amount of compensation paid to European clubs and federations who lose players to the NHL. After a meeting in Zurich last week a relieved IIHF president Rene Fasel said in a statement:
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As some of you already know, the mascots for the Olympics are known as Neve and Gliz - and in the name of the holy mascot law they're supposed to be a bit psychedelic. According to the designer Pedro Albuquerque, a 38-year old Portuguese designer who won the international competition, he was inspired by his passion for frozen water. They're supposed to resemble a snow ball and an ice cube. Well, nobody can get me to see nothing but two gigantic marshmellows on legs.Something that makes the statement from the organizers a bit more hard to swallow:
""Neve" and "Gliz" reflect the spirit of the Italian Olympic event: passion, enthusiasm, culture, elegance, and love of the environment and of sport. They are the symbol of a young generation that is full of life and energy." Amazing qualities for marshmallow mascots who totally eclipses the Michelin Man in terms of psychedelic qualities.

torino 2006

Allthough it's over six months until the event kicks off the level of media attention is gaining pace. This summer several TV-crews and newspapers from all over the world have visited the region to report back on the proceedings, including both American and Japanese newsmedia which have shown a huge interest in these events. In good ol' Japanese enthusiasm the crew from NHK Japan decided to dedicate prime-time saturday evening coverage of Torino - focusing on the history and culture of the city. My rather unexciting guess is that the attention will only increase from now on. (Wow - Mr. Oracle...)

Each week you can win two tickets for one of the sports events on the Olympic playbill.

You’ve got until the 10th of September to take part, at www.olympicstore.it, in the contest that offers every week tickets to the Olympic Games of Torino 2006.

The mechanism is very simple: during this promotion period, all those who visit the website, will be invited to fill in a registration form and answer a simple question, different for every week of the contest, on sports and Olympics topics. Among the people who answer correctly, two lucky names will be selected who will receive the two tickets of that week. The winners can then live the dream of the XX Olympic Winter Games of Torino 2006, and watch from the front rows one of the 177 sports events on the programme.
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I couldn't help but to be fascinated by the Torino 2006 torch design so I found this link to historic torches on the official site of the Olympic Committee.

Nobody expects the Italians to take lightly on design - and this is also valid when it comes to the Olympic torch. However what I didn't know about this seemingly innocent piece of burning stick, are all the tough technical requirements that have to be met:




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I think many a sports fanatic have been dreaming about it: to follow the likes of famous sports stars and carry the Olympic torch through rain and storm and to light up the flames at the Olympic stadium. Dreaming about following in the path of Carl Lewis and Pele, and raise the torch towards the sky. And now your dream can come true (instead of just waking up in the middle of the night screaming out the Olympic oath)


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The list of olympic benefits is growing rapidly. For many people who are working for the Games' success though, the Torino 2006 Winter Olympics will last far beyond the closing ceremony. A great deal of professionalism and skills are being trained up for the Games, which will ensure Torino and its nearby mountains an Olympic future after 2006 as well. For example, a few days ago Toroc hired three more people - by the end of October the total will be around 30 - to manage the Cesana Pariol bobsleigh, luge and skeleton run; both for the Games and for the events that will take place there after.

It seems that the recent terrorist activities in Europe also has reached the Olympic arenas in Torino.
After a lot of media attention was given to the potential threat of a terrorist attack during the winter games, the Italian Senate gave an additional 10 million euro dedicated to extra security measures.

Some politicians here in Italy went so far as to state that they don't know when the terrorist will strike, only when... (Read: the Olympics)

The sad truth is of course that however much money they pour into extra security measures one can never be completely safe from attacks. (unless you ban all spectators - and make it into a solely televised event. That would be real fun.) But as the Italian IOC member, Mario Pescante, put it. "Inshallah - it goes as God wants...'' And that is supposed to make us feel safer.

In good Italian style the VIPs cannot settle for anything less than a castle in the slopes. Convenient when you fancy a proper afterski in sober surroundings - the Principe di Piemonte Grand Hotel got a ski piste leading to the town square. Situated in the mountains of Sestriere, it will play host to dignitaries and VIPs. And when you're oh so tired of drinking those martinis in big ski boots, why not slip into something more comfortable and go to the sauna for a real Finish afterparty.
All this will set you back between 280-400 Euros depending on your taste in roomsizes. But first the hotel will have to be renovated, by the very same firm that renovated La Scala Theatre some years ago. Posh...Principe Grand Hotel

These are the last few days for those interested in becoming a Turin 2006 volunteer to sign up. The deadline for applications to join the Noi2006 programme is July 31. In a year and a half 40,000 people have signed up to the programme. "It's an extraordinary success," said Toroc Volunteer Director Antonio Romani. "Men and women of all ages - from Italy and abroad, but mostly from the Olympic region - have responded to our appeal with enthusiasm and a desire to participate in a unique, unrepeatable event."
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Bob from JamaicaStrength, endurance and speed - you need all three of these qualities to push a bobsleigh along a winding ice run. Some also claims you need snow, however I'm not so sure anymore. Allthough not one of the favourites the Jamaican team got Fiat as sponsor for the olympics. So when the snow don't come to Jamaica, Jamaica or at least some jamaicans need to come to the snow.
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