In February of 2006, Torino, Italy, will host the 20th Winter Olympic Games. For 17 days, over 2,500 athletes from 85 countries will compete. The Games will encompass seven different sports within 15 separate disciplines, for a total of 84 events.
With so many events, some, like alpine skiing, will be held outside of Torino. That event will be held in the city of Sestriere, which is about 100 kilometers (roughly 60 miles) away and much higher up in the Alps.
The Torino games will be a massive event, years in the making. And while space doesn't permit a full overview, here are five of the more curious things you didn't know about the upcoming 2006 Winter Olympics.
1- The Torino committee has a billion-euro budget
TOROC (the Torino Olympic Committee) has a budget of €1.2 billion, the spending of which is spread over a fiscal period from 2000 to 2006. That sum goes towards the Games themselves, and doesn't incorporate the construction of new infrastructure -- roads, hotels and stadiums. Private companies and the government bear these costs. What the Olympic budget does cover is everything from staff and catering to organizing the torch run and producing the opening and closing ceremonies.
2- The first Italian Winter Olympics were canceled
In 1956, the first Italian Olympics were held in Cortina. Cortina had actually been slated to host the event 12 years earlier, in 1944, but since Italy, and the rest of the world, was at war at that time, the Games were canceled. So the Torino games will mark the third time that an Italian city has been selected to host the Winter Olympics, but only the second time that it's actually happened.
Who will carry the torch and the tremendous costs of advertising at the Games 3- Multiple torches will travel around Italy
The Olympic torch will travel around Italy for two months before arriving in Torino. All Italians are eligible to carry the torch, although they won't be carrying the same one. This year's Olympic torch is actually a series, each one designed to burn for about 15 minutes. As for who will finally light the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony, that's a secret you'll have to tune in to see. The tradition, however, has been to go with the host country's top athlete. Anyone remember Alberto Tomba?
4- Bermuda will participate in the Winter Games
You seldom see Bermuda and winter referenced in the same sentence. But if you pay attention in 2006, you'll see that the island nation has entered an athlete. His name is Patrick Singleton, and not only is he the recipient of the 2005 Bermuda Gold Award as Bermuda's athlete of the year, he is also the country's entire Winter Olympic team. His event? Skeleton. His training grounds? Bath, England.
5- Sponsorships can cost up to $60 million
It's estimated that Olympic sponsorship rights for the 2006 Games can cost as much as $60 million (U.S.). That's money spent before the sponsor even spends a dime on marketing or advertising. Major companies like Coca-Cola and McDonald's are omnipresent at the Olympics, but the games require more funding than the big boys alone can provide. That's why there are three levels of sponsorship available, permitting access to advertisers from top international brands and national companies to local vendors.
Sports are a global obsession, but for most Americans, interest doesn't usually stretch far beyond the Canadian border. But every two years, we stop and take notice of the sports we don't see every day -- sports like curling, speed skating and alpine skiing. Not only are they unusual, but they also make for good entertainment (nothing beats watching a guy hurling himself off a ski jump). And we also know that the stakes are huge. Many of the young athletes have trained most of their lives anticipating their Olympic moment. That's compelling.
The Olympics are a cyclical thing, so it's hard to grow weary of them. After all, most of the time, the events aren't even on our radar screen. But when the time comes, it's all we watch and talk about for a few weeks.
The Winter Olympics aren't as big and spectacular as the Summer Games, but that doesn't stop millions of people from around the world from tuning in to see the show. These aren't simply athletic competitions; they're opportunities for athletes to honor their native countries and their sports.
With so many events, some, like alpine skiing, will be held outside of Torino. That event will be held in the city of Sestriere, which is about 100 kilometers (roughly 60 miles) away and much higher up in the Alps.
The Torino games will be a massive event, years in the making. And while space doesn't permit a full overview, here are five of the more curious things you didn't know about the upcoming 2006 Winter Olympics.
1- The Torino committee has a billion-euro budget
TOROC (the Torino Olympic Committee) has a budget of €1.2 billion, the spending of which is spread over a fiscal period from 2000 to 2006. That sum goes towards the Games themselves, and doesn't incorporate the construction of new infrastructure -- roads, hotels and stadiums. Private companies and the government bear these costs. What the Olympic budget does cover is everything from staff and catering to organizing the torch run and producing the opening and closing ceremonies.
2- The first Italian Winter Olympics were canceled
In 1956, the first Italian Olympics were held in Cortina. Cortina had actually been slated to host the event 12 years earlier, in 1944, but since Italy, and the rest of the world, was at war at that time, the Games were canceled. So the Torino games will mark the third time that an Italian city has been selected to host the Winter Olympics, but only the second time that it's actually happened.
Who will carry the torch and the tremendous costs of advertising at the Games 3- Multiple torches will travel around Italy
The Olympic torch will travel around Italy for two months before arriving in Torino. All Italians are eligible to carry the torch, although they won't be carrying the same one. This year's Olympic torch is actually a series, each one designed to burn for about 15 minutes. As for who will finally light the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony, that's a secret you'll have to tune in to see. The tradition, however, has been to go with the host country's top athlete. Anyone remember Alberto Tomba?
4- Bermuda will participate in the Winter Games
You seldom see Bermuda and winter referenced in the same sentence. But if you pay attention in 2006, you'll see that the island nation has entered an athlete. His name is Patrick Singleton, and not only is he the recipient of the 2005 Bermuda Gold Award as Bermuda's athlete of the year, he is also the country's entire Winter Olympic team. His event? Skeleton. His training grounds? Bath, England.
5- Sponsorships can cost up to $60 million
It's estimated that Olympic sponsorship rights for the 2006 Games can cost as much as $60 million (U.S.). That's money spent before the sponsor even spends a dime on marketing or advertising. Major companies like Coca-Cola and McDonald's are omnipresent at the Olympics, but the games require more funding than the big boys alone can provide. That's why there are three levels of sponsorship available, permitting access to advertisers from top international brands and national companies to local vendors.
Sports are a global obsession, but for most Americans, interest doesn't usually stretch far beyond the Canadian border. But every two years, we stop and take notice of the sports we don't see every day -- sports like curling, speed skating and alpine skiing. Not only are they unusual, but they also make for good entertainment (nothing beats watching a guy hurling himself off a ski jump). And we also know that the stakes are huge. Many of the young athletes have trained most of their lives anticipating their Olympic moment. That's compelling.
The Olympics are a cyclical thing, so it's hard to grow weary of them. After all, most of the time, the events aren't even on our radar screen. But when the time comes, it's all we watch and talk about for a few weeks.
The Winter Olympics aren't as big and spectacular as the Summer Games, but that doesn't stop millions of people from around the world from tuning in to see the show. These aren't simply athletic competitions; they're opportunities for athletes to honor their native countries and their sports.