A pre-Games broadcast report commissioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and prepared by Sports Marketing Surveys shows that the Turin 2006 Summer Olympic Games are expected to be the most watched Winter Games in history. Increased free-to-air coverage in Africa and Asia will see the number of countries and territories broadcasting the Games rise from 160 for the Salt Lake Games to 200 for Turin 2006. Also first-time use of mobile telephony will offer a greater viewing choice. More than 3.2 billion people will have access to Games coverage, an increase of five per cent over Salt Lake. For the first time mobile phone subscribers in some territories will be able to watch live or delayed video coverage of the Games.
By a vote of 148 to 82 the Italian government has voted to cover the Turin 2006 deficit of 80 million Euros reports Sport.orf. Funds will also come from a lottery and the municipal and federal governments.
The Daily Telegraph reports that the World Anti Doping Agency WADA is believed to be planning a massive crackdown at the Games by catching cheats who try to mask banned products with the use of intravenous drips. A top ranking source told the newspaper last week that WADA’s new IV drip rule will “blow up in a couple of weeks”, hinting that it could be at the Turin Olympics. The banned use of IV drips “except as a legitimate acute medical treatment” has been added to WADA’s list of prohibited substances and methods that came into force on January 1. A WADA spokesman said the IV rule was “to avoid the misuse of intravenous infusions to mask the use of prohibited substances and methods”.
Italy was given a gift Thursday in the form of snow. Snow finally fell on the ski resort of Sestriere where the Alpine skiing races will take place. Snow cannons had been firing non-stop to make up for an unusually dry season.
