Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, says that Turin 2006 has fallen behind in its preparations for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.
Rogge met with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in Rome and organizers in Turin and surrounding areas. Rogge said he found “a great deal of goodwill” among organizers.
Rogge told a press conference that Italy needs to speed up work on the venues. He added “but a sense of urgency needs to be found. Once it is found, then there is no question that the Games of Turin 2006, with all the passions that Italians can bring to what they do, will be superb Games”.
Rogge said he had asked the Prime Minister to intervene and ensure there was clear management.
“I don’t want to be melodramatic and I’m confident that Turin can put on a superb Games…but organizing is difficult, surprises are par for the course, and that’s why there can’t be delays”, he said.
IOC member Jean Claude Killy said the planned bobsleigh run is causing the biggest headache.
“Work on this should have started two years ago. But in fact the first blow of the ice pack has been postponed until June 2003”. Killy is also president of the IOC coordinating committee for Turin 2006.
He added “we are very worried because there is little time left”.
Valentino Castellani, head of Turin’s Olympic organizing committee, conceded there were changes to be made. He told reporters, “we need a clearer chain of command”.
Rogge said he was also concerned that the 2006 Games had yet to capture the hearts and minds of Italians, with the build up only being covered by very local media.
