To avoid traffic jams during the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games most private cars will be banned from the mountain area hosting Alpine and cross-country skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, skeleton, luge, freestyle, ski-jumping, snowboard and Nordic combined events.
People who live or work in the area or stay at local hotels will be issued special permits during Feb. 8-27, allowing them to use their cars. The Games runs from Feb. 10-26.
Other spectators travelling to the Alps by car are asked to park them at one of four car parks offering about 5,800 spaces, and use round-the-clock free bus shuttles.
Games organizers are encouraging spectators to take trains to save time and money. Additional trains will run to and from the mountains every 30 minutes from early morning until evening.
Organizers are urging spectators to arrive at venues three hours ahead of the event.
Organizers and local authorities say they will be able to deal with a natural calamity, while police and emergency services will intervene if there is a security threat.
There won’t be a car ban in Turin, which will host most ice-based competitions as well as the awards ceremonies. It’s also the site of the Olympic Village housing 2,500 people, three villages for journalists and thousands of tourists.
Organizers encourage visitors to leave their cars at 11 car parks just outside the city and switch to public transport which will be reinforced with new lines and new buses, some running around the clock.
High schools will be closed in the city and other Olympic areas to give teenagers the opportunity to volunteer for the Games. It will also free up about 100 school buses which will be added to the Olympic fleet.
