The city of Turin, Italy is doing everything in its power to prove that it can lay the benchmark for the 2006 Winter Games, in the hopes of emulating Sydney’s success.
This week-end’s three-day Alpine Skiing World Cup meeting at Sestriere, which will stage several Alpine events in 2006, is an opportunity for organizers and tourism heads to review progress and plan ahead.
A staff of volunteers are at hand to assist press and public with the same enthusiasm that was readily on hand from the volunteers in Australia, and the shuttle buses were efficient and on time.
The infrastructure in the remote mountainous region is being upgraded and road-widening is already underway on the road link to the closest railway station at Quicx (21 km from Sestriere).
Local shops and restaurants are already cashing in, and the Olympic logo can be seen throughout the region.
But there are two things that the organizers will not be able to ensure in 2006 — weather conditions and an Italian Cathy Freeman, to galvanize interest in the rest of the host country.
There is talk that Alberto Tomba could be the man to take the last leg of the torch relay and illuminate the cauldron at the opening ceremony which will be held in Turin.
