ITALY: OLYMPIC GAMES - Snow falls over Sestriere's slopes on seventh day of Winter Olympics.

Record ID: 331933

  • Title: ITALY: OLYMPIC GAMES - Snow falls over Sestriere's slopes on seventh day of Winter Olympics.
  • Date: 17th February 2006
  • Summary: SESTRIERE, ITALY (FEBRUARY 16, 2006) (REUTERS) SNOW FALLING OVER OLYMPIC VILLAGE WOMEN WALKING WITH UMBRELLA AND THICK FUR JACKETS FLAGS NEAR OLYMPIC VILLAGE "TORINO 2006" POSTER VARIOUS OF SNOW FALLING ALPINE SKI OFFICIALS LEVELLING PISTE FOR DOWNHILL EVENT VARIOUS OF SNOW FALLING PISTE WHERE DOWNHILL EVENT TAKES PLACE BUILDING WITH OLYMPIC EMBLEM CLOSE OF OLYMPIC RINGS MAN STANDING IN SNOW VARIOUS OF SNOW FALLING OVER VILLAGE PEOPLE WALKING IN SNOW WIDE OVER OLYMPIC VILLAGE WITH SNOW FALLING
  • Embargoed: 4th March 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Weather,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA5MP4WF5FPDYYCR53SZ400XOYA
  • Story Text: After days of bright sunshine, snow flakes fell over the Italian Alps village of Sestriere on Thursday (February 16). It was the first bout of snow in the mountain venue since the start of the Winter Olympic Games.
    Alpine snow officials took to Sestriere's slopes, home to the piste for the Alpine Skiing downhill event, to even out the fresh layer of snow and to ensure that the piste remained in top condition for upcoming events.
    All events at the Games have taken place with no real concerns over the amount of snow in the mountain venues. Organisers had earlier been concerned that there was too little snow to host the Olympics, but during the last week of January two feet (60cm) of snow fell over Sestriere allaying all fears of a snowless Games.
    Organisers had planned to use artificial snow to overcome the shortage, but such drastic measures were ultimately unnecessary.
    Thursday's snow caused low visibility and training for the downhill section of the women's combined event in the nearby Olympic village of San Sicario was called off because of falling snow on the course.
    The race jury inspected the hill early on Thursday and decided not to go ahead with the training run, which had been scheduled for 1100 GMT.
    Light snow and falling temperatures are forecast for Friday (February 17).
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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