Turin 2006 Games Supervisor and Sport Undersecretary Mario Pescante told the Italian House that the organization of the Turin 2006 Games “is decisively improved and we are preparing to host an event in which Turin, Piedmont and our country will meet the expectations of the whole world”. He said the management structure has been re-organized, relations have been restored with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the organizational machine has been put back in motion “so today it has reached an excellent level of efficiency”. He added that with eight months to go to the start of the Games more than 85 per cent of the work has been carried out and most of the facilities were tested at last winter’s test events. There have also been measures taken to resolve the “deficit of (180 million euros) with two legislative provisions for an extraordinary intervention of 130 million euros”, and the local authorities will provide the financial support for the rest of the funding required.
Turin 2006 announces that the Piedmont Region has become the first public partner to join its Heritage Climate Torino (HECTOR) environmental protection program. The region has allocated three million euro to the project and will use the money to support companies that are awarded regional contracts and want to help Turin 2006 neutralize its greenhouse gas emissions.
Work has begun on the 60 km. Cesana-Clavere road at a cost of 107 million euros, which will make it faster and safer to reach the two Turin 2006 Olympic mountain sites. Over the next few months three tunnels will be constructed, as well as a bridge over the Piccola Dora river, and a roundabout.
Turin 2006 is looking for volunteers to travel around Italy for two months carrying the Olympic torch. The torch will take an 11,000 km tour of Italy between December 8, 2005 and February 10, 2006. About 20 volunteers are need to drive vehicles, check the torch routes in advance and perform other tasks.
