Official Press Releases

[NicoMoon]

Jan 14 2006 The Look of the Games set in place in the city and the mountains

The last few days have seen the start of the operation to set in place the Look of the Games at the Olympic Venues, competition and non-competition alike, in Torino and the Municipalities which will be hosting competitions. Red and blue are the predominant colours: red, standing for passion, blue representing the colours of ice, sky and night. Elements forming a graphic motif which, when reproduced on flags, banners and other decorative elements, communicates the visual identity of the XX Olympic Winter Games and their character, the personality and image of the city, the region and the host country.

The Look of the Games has required significant organisational effort. As to set-up, 8,000 square metres of PVC will be used, applied to the exterior of buildings; more than 150 km of cloth for covering barriers, parapets and fencing; more than 7,000 banners for external and internal use, for an area of 22,000 square metres; 44,000 square metres of PVC to cover the grandstands; 82 3-D logos placed in strikingly visible positions (towers, ski-jumps); more than 28,000 posters for internal decoration. These are just some examples of the material that TOROC staff has begun to put in place inside and outside the Olympic venues over the past few days.

The first Olympic Venues to be dressed in the Games’ colours were the towers of Sestriere, Torino Airport, the Lingotto (headquarters of the Main Media Center) and the Olympic Village of Bardonecchia. In the next few days, the grandstands too, starting and finishing points on the tracks and the plants hosting the ice events will also take on the Look of the Games so that by 10 February the whole Olympic system will be “dressed” in a uniform manner, forming one great virtual ‘piazza’.

The Look of the Games of Torino 2006

To bring to life the Look of the Games, TOROC’s creative staff took as their starting point two main concepts: passion, a value which well expresses the character of Italy and the Italians, and participation, something really typical of the Olympic spirit. To represent them, choice fell on the graphic expression of the ‘piazza’, the square: a unique solution, with roots deeply set in the past but with a searching glance towards the future. The ‘piazza’ is a perfect metaphor – Olympic and Italian at the same time – to express the Games’ ideals of friendship, fair play and mutual respect. And at the same time it provides a modern rendition of the “Italian spirit”. The competition venues of Torino 2006 are one big virtual ‘piazza’, where athletes and spectators will mingle and meet.

[Sweetwater]

I'm interested in the figure skating competitions. I was very happy that Sasha Cohen won the gold for the final competition and is on her way to Torrino. With the exception of one minor mistake, she skated flawlessly and earned that gold medal this weekend. I think it is very unfair for the skating commission to vote in favor of Michelle Kwan attending the Olympics on a medical bye, when she has missed so many competitions, taking the opportunity away from Emily Hughes. You can tell by Saturdays program that she spent alot of time working on her positions and her artistic style. I think it is unfair that they bumped her in favor of Michelle Kwan based on the excuse that "Kwan would fair better at the gold in Torrino." This is just an excuse to get the "favorite" into the games.

Sarah Hughes, Emily's sister, was a dark horse in 2002 and was never a favorite, yet due to sloppy skating and mistakes on the part of the projected winners, she came from behind and landed the gold. What's to say that Emily won't do the same? Michelle Kwan's statement that "it was done to her by Nancy Kerrigan and Emily will have other chances to go to the Olympics" just shows her ignorance and high horse mentality. The circumstances why Nancy Kerrigan was granted the medical bye were very different than Michelle's who is suffering from a groin injury. Nancy was attacked by a fellow skater and every knows it, they just can't prove it. Michelle fell. Boo hoo. The whole point of these competitions is to put the best into the Olympics. In order to be the best, you have to compete. It isn't fair to select someone just because they have been skating longer than anyone else and they do not have to compete.

I think that Michelle Kwan will never get the gold, not for anything else but because her skating is good but she just doesn't have that "spark" that special something in her skating and her personality and she never will. Maybe in the end, when the Judges realize they made a mistake picking Kwan over Emily, they will give Emily plenty of leeway in the future and perhaps give her the "edge".

Still, the decisions and actions of the skating commission over the decades just goes to show that they have their favorites and if you are lucky enough to be one, why bother showing up for a competition. Without putting your blade on the ice, you can still win a spot on the Olympic team.

[Tersi]

I'm interested in the figure skating competitions. I was very happy that Sasha Cohen won the gold for the final competition and is on her way to Torrino. With the exception of one minor mistake, she skated flawlessly and earned that gold medal this weekend. I think it is very unfair for the skating commission to vote in favor of Michelle Kwan attending the Olympics on a medical bye, when she has missed so many competitions, taking the opportunity away from Emily Hughes. You can tell by Saturdays program that she spent alot of time working on her positions and her artistic style. I think it is unfair that they bumped her in favor of Michelle Kwan based on the excuse that "Kwan would fair better at the gold in Torrino." This is just an excuse to get the "favorite" into the games.

Sarah Hughes, Emily's sister, was a dark horse in 2002 and was never a favorite, yet due to sloppy skating and mistakes on the part of the projected winners, she came from behind and landed the gold. What's to say that Emily won't do the same? Michelle Kwan's statement that "it was done to her by Nancy Kerrigan and Emily will have other chances to go to the Olympics" just shows her ignorance and high horse mentality. The circumstances why Nancy Kerrigan was granted the medical bye were very different than Michelle's who is suffering from a groin injury. Nancy was attacked by a fellow skater and every knows it, they just can't prove it. Michelle fell. Boo hoo. The whole point of these competitions is to put the best into the Olympics. In order to be the best, you have to compete. It isn't fair to select someone just because they have been skating longer than anyone else and they do not have to compete.

I think that Michelle Kwan will never get the gold, not for anything else but because her skating is good but she just doesn't have that "spark" that special something in her skating and her personality and she never will. Maybe in the end, when the Judges realize they made a mistake picking Kwan over Emily, they will give Emily plenty of leeway in the future and perhaps give her the "edge".

Still, the decisions and actions of the skating commission over the decades just goes to show that they have their favorites and if you are lucky enough to be one, why bother showing up for a competition. Without putting your blade on the ice, you can still win a spot on the Olympic team.

I enjoy the ice skating as well. I haven't paid much attention the last few years though, I've been working too much, and sleep is much more important these days. I must admit, Michelle has always been one of my favorites. Since you've been keeping up on it, how does our team stand up to the competition for this Olympics?

[Sweetwater]

I enjoy the ice skating as well. I haven't paid much attention the last few years though, I've been working too much, and sleep is much more important these days. I must admit, Michelle has always been one of my favorites. Since you've been keeping up on it, how does our team stand up to the competition for this Olympics?

I can't honestly answer that because I have only been watching the nationals and exhibition skates. Sorry. I can tell you that this years new move which is a bizarre sitspin with the free leg wrapped around the body in a grotesque contortion looks really gross. Peggy Fleming commented at the State Farm Championships on Saturday that she felt it was a real shame that figure skating has losts its grace with the new marking system in place which puts more emphasis on gymnastics than it does on grace and elegance. I happen to agree with that.

[Tersi]

I can't honestly answer that because I have only been watching the nationals and exhibition skates. Sorry. I can tell you that this years new move which is a bizarre sitspin with the free leg wrapped around the body in a grotesque contortion looks really gross. Peggy Fleming commented at the State Farm Championships on Saturday that she felt it was a real shame that figure skating has losts its grace with the new marking system in place which puts more emphasis on gymnastics than it does on grace and elegance. I happen to agree with that.

You are so right, skating has lost it's elegance in favor of gymnastics and has gone jump crazy in my opinion. Perhaps they should have two categories, one for actual skating and one for acrobats on ice. I don't know how long you've been a skating fan, but one of the most memorable performances for grace and beauty was a performance by Rory Flack Burghart. She came onto the ice in a floral summer dress reminiscent of the thirties, and skated to a slow, soulful rendition of "Summertime". With her long, elegant lines and dignified grace...it gave me goosebumps. I don't think she did anything but flowing single jumps, and it was a performance I will never forget. I agree with you, skating is what happens on the ice, not above it.

[Sweetwater]

You are so right, skating has lost it's elegance in favor of gymnastics and has gone jump crazy in my opinion. Perhaps they should have two categories, one for actual skating and one for acrobats on ice. I don't know how long you've been a skating fan, but one of the most memorable performances for grace and beauty was a performance by Rory Flack Burghart. She came onto the ice in a floral summer dress reminiscent of the thirties, and skated to a slow, soulful rendition of "Summertime". With her long, elegant lines and dignified grace...it gave me goosebumps. I don't think she did anything but flowing single jumps, and it was a performance I will never forget. I agree with you, skating is what happens on the ice, not above it.

I'm not familiar with that skater but I'll look her up on the internet and see if I can find some clips of her skating style. I had purchased a dvd of the Nagano Olympics and just today decided to watch it. I was very impressed with Tara Lipinski, a tiny nymph on the ice, her long program made me cry it was so beautiful. Interesting to note that Michelle Kwan was a favorite in those Olympic games and there was nothing to her performance. She hasn't changed much in these past decades as far as personality on the ice. She doesn't get that she doesn't have "it". I was floored at the end with a French skater whose name escapes me right now, who knew she was not going to medal so she performed the very first single blade back flip which had the judges practically cursing her out at the end of the performance they were in such an uproar since the move is illegal in Olympic competition. She snubbed the judges (good for her) during her bows and went on to make iceskating history with that one back flip.

Peggy Fleming and Dorothy Hamill both said that if they had to do todays requirements when they were competing, they would never have made it.

[Sweetwater]

Tersi, I looked up Rory Flack Burghart and I just saw part of her performance on the Hilton Skating Spectacular on Sunday afternoon! I didn't know her name but she did a split in the air that I have never seen before, it was amazing! I also took note that her jumps were extraordinarily high, usually women don't jump like that, but her jumps were high! I loved her performance from what I saw and I'll be watching that show when it airs again next week. I look forward to it! She's amazing!

[Tersi]

Tersi, I looked up Rory Flack Burghart and I just saw part of her performance on the Hilton Skating Spectacular on Sunday afternoon! I didn't know her name but she did a split in the air that I have never seen before, it was amazing! I also took note that her jumps were extraordinarily high, usually women don't jump like that, but her jumps were high! I loved her performance from what I saw and I'll be watching that show when it airs again next week. I look forward to it! She's amazing!

She is amazing, but she never quite made it to the top, although she may not have chosen to take that path. She's got legs all the way up to her neck doesn't she? lol

I hope you get the chance to see her Summertime performance sometime.

I concur that Michelle lost to Tara fair and square...her perfomance was stale and lackluster.

[Tersi]

The French ice skater who did the backflip is Surya Bonaly. Her name was on the tip of my tongue and it was driving me crazy...so I had to find out...lol

[Sweetwater]

The French ice skater who did the backflip is Surya Bonaly. Her name was on the tip of my tongue and it was driving me crazy...so I had to find out...lol



I give her alot of credit for having the guts to do it. I wonder what her coach said when she stepped off the ice that night. If I were her coach I would have said what were you thinking? Followed by Way to Go! LOL I have just ordered the 2002 olympic skating dvd and can't wait to see that. It has Sarah Hughes winning the gold. Personally, I don't think Sarah Hughes is that good, and I think she knows it. I think that is one of the reasons why she doesn't compete anymore. I think the only reason why she got the gold was because of all of the screw ups of Michelle Kwan, Irena Slutskya and everyone else in the competition that night. It was being in the right place at the right time and 4 minutes of flawless skating. I am still very angry over what they are doing to Emily. She skated, she won, she should go to Torrino. It isn't fair.

[Tersi]

I give her alot of credit for having the guts to do it. I wonder what her coach said when she stepped off the ice that night. If I were her coach I would have said what were you thinking? Followed by Way to Go! LOL I have just ordered the 2002 olympic skating dvd and can't wait to see that. It has Sarah Hughes winning the gold. Personally, I don't think Sarah Hughes is that good, and I think she knows it. I think that is one of the reasons why she doesn't compete anymore. I think the only reason why she got the gold was because of all of the screw ups of Michelle Kwan, Irena Slutskya and everyone else in the competition that night. It was being in the right place at the right time and 4 minutes of flawless skating. I am still very angry over what they are doing to Emily. She skated, she won, she should go to Torrino. It isn't fair.

I think the reason Surya did the back flip was her way of doing a different kind of flip to the judges. She's a superb athelete but she didn't have the artistic performances to take an Olympic gold medal, so she made her displeasure known in a different manner. I've seen her stalk off when she didn't receive the scores she felt she deserved. You might look up a few of her interviews online, she sure doesn't suffer from a lack of self confidence or high opinion of herself...lol

I agree with you about Sarah Hughes, it was a fluke, but she did skate beautifully! I understand your passion and getting angry about the decisions that are made. I was angry when Oksana Baiul won the gold medal instead of Nancy Kerrigan, because Oksana was the poor little waif. But Oksana violated the rules by adding in more jumps at the last minute, and that should have disqualified her. I honestly thought Nancy Kerrigan deserved the gold based on her performances.

If you've followed skating for very long, you are familiar with the wacky decisions that are sometimes made. I guess we all have to take the bad with the good, and hope for better...lol

[Sweetwater]

I think the reason Surya did the back flip was her way of doing a different kind of flip to the judges. She's a superb athelete but she didn't have the artistic performances to take an Olympic gold medal, so she made her displeasure known in a different manner. I've seen her stalk off when she didn't receive the scores she felt she deserved. You might look up a few of her interviews online, she sure doesn't suffer from a lack of self confidence or high opinion of herself...lol

I agree with you about Sarah Hughes, it was a fluke, but she did skate beautifully! I understand your passion and getting angry about the decisions that are made. I was angry when Oksana Baiul won the gold medal instead of Nancy Kerrigan, because Oksana was the poor little waif. But Oksana violated the rules by adding in more jumps at the last minute, and that should have disqualified her. I honestly thought Nancy Kerrigan deserved the gold based on her performances.

If you've followed skating for very long, you are familiar with the wacky decisions that are sometimes made. I guess we all have to take the bad with the good, and hope for better...lol



LOL I think you are right about the "flip". I remember in the last Olympics how mad I was that they gave the gold to the Canadian pairs Jamie Sale and David Pelletier when it was so obvious that Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze had a much more difficult program even though they fell once. In a way, the new scoring system is better in that it grades them on difficulty of performance as well as artistic style and accuracy on the ice. If the system were in place in the last Olympics, David and Jamie would never have received a gold. And the whole double gold thing- what was up with that! The whole point of the Olympics to choose the best of the best not the best two of the best. Jamie and David should have sucked it up. Another spoiled brat duo, they can add their names to the list along with Michelle Kwan and Tonya Harding. :bigcry:

[Sweetwater]

By the way, Tersi, I have been looking for this all day, maybe you can help. I was watching an exhibition skate yesterday and it was pairs (a couple that I did not recognize, tuned in too late for the introduction) he grabs her by both of her skate blades and starts swinging her around and with each swing her head gets closer and closer to the ice and then up over him in like an eliptical orb. She is stiff as a board and then he gets her up over her head straight up while still holding both of her blades, and lowers her down to the ice landing on her feet with his hands now on her waist. Do you happen to know what this move is called? It looks more dangerous than the death spiral because the thought of him losing control and smashing her head into the ice YIKES! But I cannot find the name of this move anywhere.

[Tersi]

By the way, Tersi, I have been looking for this all day, maybe you can help. I was watching an exhibition skate yesterday and it was pairs (a couple that I did not recognize, tuned in too late for the introduction) he grabs her by both of her skate blades and starts swinging her around and with each swing her head gets closer and closer to the ice and then up over him in like an eliptical orb. She is stiff as a board and then he gets her up over her head straight up while still holding both of her blades, and lowers her down to the ice landing on her feet with his hands now on her waist. Do you happen to know what this move is called? It looks more dangerous than the death spiral because the thought of him losing control and smashing her head into the ice YIKES! But I cannot find the name of this move anywhere.

I don't know if this is the official name of it but Scott Hamilton calls it the headbanger..lol

I'm heading off to work now...have a nice evening!

Is this the move you're talking about?

http://www.frogsonice.com/skateweb/pictures/kjohnsto/be_camp1.gif

[Sweetwater]

I don't know if this is the official name of it but Scott Hamilton calls it the headbanger..lol

I'm heading off to work now...have a nice evening!

Is this the move you're talking about?

http://www.frogsonice.com/skateweb/pictures/kjohnsto/be_camp1.gif



Yep, and I just did a search and that's what they are all calling it. Thank you! I just read a little article online while I was searching that, which says that during one of the stars on ice programs, one of the pairs skaters did the move and lost his grip on her while she was on the downswing and she just went flying across the ice in a nasty spill. Can you imagine if he had lost his grip on her while she was going up? Hey, by the way, did you happen to see the exhibition skate this past weekend with the pairs skaters - the girl wore a completely nude body suit ala Bob Mackey style with a very fine design down the breasts and just barely covering what needed to be covered, half of her behind showing? I was shocked but I thought she was very brave to wear the costume. This girl had to be double jointed, she was in all kinds of contortions defying the human body. It was amazing! It was these two --- Elena Leonova and Andrei Khvalko

[Tersi]

Yep, and I just did a search and that's what they are all calling it. Thank you! I just read a little article online while I was searching that, which says that during one of the stars on ice programs, one of the pairs skaters did the move and lost his grip on her while she was on the downswing and she just went flying across the ice in a nasty spill. Can you imagine if he had lost his grip on her while she was going up? Hey, by the way, did you happen to see the exhibition skate this past weekend with the pairs skaters - the girl wore a completely nude body suit ala Bob Mackey style with a very fine design down the breasts and just barely covering what needed to be covered, half of her behind showing? I was shocked but I thought she was very brave to wear the costume. This girl had to be double jointed, she was in all kinds of contortions defying the human body. It was amazing! It was these two --- Elena Leonova and Andrei Khvalko

I saw the accident where he lost his grip on her when it happened. I should say that I saw 'an" accident like the one you describe. They were a Russian pair and she was blonde, she was very brave about it, but you could tell she was in some extreme pain. If I remember correctly they came back a little later and skated their program again. She had a gash on her chin. Dang, that takes guts to let him throw you again so soon after.

Have you ever gone to see one of the ice shows? I paid a small fortune for center line seats on the ice when I went see Stars on Ice because I really, really wanted to see Scott Hamilton and Gordeeva and Grinkov. It was heartbreaking when Sergei Grinkov died tragically just a few weeks before I was to see them. It was a great show, and being on the ice they skate within just a few inches of you, shake your hand, and all the foo foo stuff, and I gained a new appreciation for how high the ladies get thrown. It looks much higher in person when your sitting at ice level...yikes If you haven't bit the bullet and gone, I'm sure you would enjoy it. It really makes for a fun 'girls night out'.

I didn't see the event you mentioned. I work weekend nights so I always seem to miss the events. I've either working or sleeping. I have a vcr...don't ask me why I don't use it...lol A nude body suit huh...I'll dust off the vcr :)
I looked up the Russian pair you mentioned so I can watch for them.

You are getting me hooked again...I'm going to check tv schedules, set the vcr and get some sleep...lol

[Sweetwater]

I saw the accident where he lost his grip on her when it happened. I should say that I saw 'an" accident like the one you describe. They were a Russian pair and she was blonde, she was very brave about it, but you could tell she was in some extreme pain. If I remember correctly they came back a little later and skated their program again. She had a gash on her chin. Dang, that takes guts to let him throw you again so soon after.

Have you ever gone to see one of the ice shows? I paid a small fortune for center line seats on the ice when I went see Stars on Ice because I really, really wanted to see Scott Hamilton and Gordeeva and Grinkov. It was heartbreaking when Sergei Grinkov died tragically just a few weeks before I was to see them. It was a great show, and being on the ice they skate within just a few inches of you, shake your hand, and all the foo foo stuff, and I gained a new appreciation for how high the ladies get thrown. It looks much higher in person when your sitting at ice level...yikes If you haven't bit the bullet and gone, I'm sure you would enjoy it. It really makes for a fun 'girls night out'.

I didn't see the event you mentioned. I work weekend nights so I always seem to miss the events. I've either working or sleeping. I have a vcr...don't ask me why I don't use it...lol A nude body suit huh...I'll dust off the vcr :)
I looked up the Russian pair you mentioned so I can watch for them.

You are getting me hooked again...I'm going to check tv schedules, set the vcr and get some sleep...lol



I was just reading up on this Russian pair that I mentioned above who wore the nude body suit. She had a bad accident several years ago. Her then partner and her were doing identical side by side camel spins and he slipped and clawed her with his toe picks right in her skull. It pierced her brain and she had to go under brain surgery and have alot of therapy. They say her complete recovery plus her return to the ice is a miracle. They have a famous Russian coach who they say anything she touches turns to GOLD. I can't remember her name but she has coached two pairs teams at the same time in the last Olympics. Wow! I would love to see a show! I can imagine how high the throws and jumps are in person as opposed to the tv cameras. You lose so much with the cameras. I hate when the camera focuses on their feet when they are doing jumps and turns and spirals. It annoys me to no end. The only ice show I have ever seen was when I was little and my aunt took us to Madison Square Garden to see Ice Capades. It was wonderful!

[Tersi]

I was just reading up on this Russian pair that I mentioned above who wore the nude body suit. She had a bad accident several years ago. Her then partner and her were doing identical side by side camel spins and he slipped and clawed her with his toe picks right in her skull. It pierced her brain and she had to go under brain surgery and have alot of therapy. They say her complete recovery plus her return to the ice is a miracle. They have a famous Russian coach who they say anything she touches turns to GOLD. I can't remember her name but she has coached two pairs teams at the same time in the last Olympics. Wow! I would love to see a show! I can imagine how high the throws and jumps are in person as opposed to the tv cameras. You lose so much with the cameras. I hate when the camera focuses on their feet when they are doing jumps and turns and spirals. It annoys me to no end. The only ice show I have ever seen was when I was little and my aunt took us to Madison Square Garden to see Ice Capades. It was wonderful!

I think I saw a profile one time during Olympic coverage about that accident. She was in the hospital for quite some time wasn't she? His leg came around and just sliced into her head, it's got to be the same one I would think. I don't know how people ice skate. I used to rollerskate and skateboard, but I tried to ice skate during a trip to Squaw Valley, and I couldn't stay up to save my soul. I would be fine for a few minutes, and then my feet would start veering out, and they just kept going until I'd done the splits and I was sitting on the ice...ouch! I couldn't bring my feet back together to save my life!! Do you ice skate?

One interesting thing I noticed when I had the rink side seats was every time Paul Wylie came close, I could hear him counting "six seven eight" and then he'd jump. I didn't notice the others doing it, just him, but the look of concentration on his face and that counting really struck me...lol

I see that Skating with Celebrities is on Fox tonight and it looks like it would be fun to watch so I've got my evening planned...lol I'm going to try and tape the repeat of the Hilton show. I printed off a schedule so I know what's coming up.

[Sweetwater]

I don't ice skate but when I was a kid, my grandparents used to take us to some park with a huge lake that always froze over during winter and I would skate there. I always wanted to be a skater but we came from a very poor family and you just didn't go after your dreams like that in those days so I never really pursued it. The accident that the Russian skater had was exactly how you described. He sliced into her skull while in a fast rotation on a camel spin. I think in today's skating there are risks because of the gymnastics involved. I think they need to do away with alot of the gymnastics and focus on the artistic elegance that skating has lost. I was watching the Skating with the Stars last night, I thought it was stupid. But I did watch the Bravo Channel where the designers compete against each other to get a spot in the famous French designing company and their assignment was to design and sew up a costume for Sasha Cohen. Out of the five or six designs, she picked a white glittery thing that was just elegant. She was supposed to wear it on an exhibition skate but I don't think she did. It was nice seeing her skating with her coach at practices, she is so relaxed when she is not competing. I enjoy talking to you about skating. Keep your eye on Sasha vs. Michelle. I think the drama there is going to be intense.

[Jilly]

Sweetwater, I read in the 'suggestions for new threads' you would like a thread to discuss figure skating and the Michelle Kwan controversy. I see today she has been named to the team. She must have passed her test today and declared fit to participate.

I am a big fan myself of figure skating, although I don't see the results of the 2002 games the same way you do but since I am Canadian,I must root for the home team. I believe they did win the gold, they skated a flawless performance. Not to mention the French and Russian judges cheating!

I'm very excited the games start in 2 weeks. Even though I root for the home team, I must admit we might be hard pressed to win a medal in any categories this time. We had a lot of retirements and have lots of new skaters. The experience will be amazing for them and I'm sure they will learn a tremendous amount.

Looking forward to discussing the skating with you.

[Tersi]

I agree with you Jilly about the Canadian couple deserving the gold. I'm not Canadian, but I think Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz were cheated out of numerous medals that they should have won, especially the Riverdance routine they did. :mad:

They all work so darn hard that I don't really care which skaters win, as long as they deserve it. It's nice if my country wins, but only if they earn it. I like to cheer all of them on...and may the best win! :clap:

[enigma]

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c17/jes_mys316/smilies2/olympics.gif
Kwan Earns a Last Shot at Gold (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/28/sports/sportsspecial1/28kwan.html?th&emc=th)
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/01/27/sports/28kwan184.2.jpg
With jumps, spins and spirals, Michelle Kwan on Friday earned one more run at that elusive Olympic gold medal.



By LYNN ZINSER
In a nearly empty rink yesterday in Artesia, Calif., with no crowd to charm and no television cameras to capture her trademark smile, Michelle Kwan still captivated her audience. Kwan, the face of American skating for a decade despite always coming up short in the Olympics, performed so convincingly that a team of United States Figure Skating Association officials decided that she was fit to compete in her third Games.

Kwan, making her last-ditch attempt at Olympic glory at 25, took the ice in a simple black sweatshirt and warm-up pants and skated her long and short programs, according to pool reporters attending the session. She beamed toward the empty bleachers as if they were packed with fans, although only some skating and Olympic officials, her parents and her sister watched from rinkside, shivering in the cold arena.

When she was finished, a five-member panel unanimously determined that she could compete in the marquee event at the Turin Games, which begin Feb. 10. Kwan had been named to the Olympic team after pulling out of the national championships with a groin injury, but she was required to show skating officials that she would be ready to compete.

[Jilly]

Tersi, I agree with you Bourne & Kraatz did deserve more recognition than they ever received. Their Riverdance was incredible. Most of the judges like to see more traditional skating and I'm not sure they knew how to judge that routine. We also had Elvis Stoiko and he was different too, incorporating martial arts into his routine. You either like it or you don't. There's many fans and judges who, like I said, prefer traditional skating.
The skaters do work very hard, I'm not sure I have or ever had the discipline to commit so much to one thing, it becomes their lives for many years.
I root for the best to win too, I might not like the outcome but may the best win.
One thing I'm not sure of, is the women's costumes are getting pretty risque. I don't know why we seem to always have to bring 'sexy' into everything. I have always thought skating was a family sport. By the way I am not prudish by any means but we did raise four kids and I believe parents have to watch out far more for their kids than we did.

[InsanitysAngel]

Whew, I was going to be SO ashamed if I missed it! I like the winter olympics more than the summer olympics. Could be because I have more than my fair share of summer all ready. :D


Opening Ceremony: Friday, February 10, 2006


:jumpers:

[vervilledeb1]

Lets hope the Spanish Winter Olympic Teams luggage shows up! I was just reading the headlines for the day and this REALLY has to be the worst. Can you imagine being on an Olympic team and having your luggage lost?! With my luck my contacts and glasses would be in there and I would be blind. :dork:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060209/od_nm/spain_luggage_dc;_ylt=AnrH2R9f2F.w3GsydQ1D3zvtiBIF ;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[InsanitysAngel]

I'm still looking for an update on the luggage story.

But, I did find a link to a medal tracker:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2006/medals/tracker/


:D