ITALY: OLYMPIC GAMES - Preparations in Turin for another day of Winter Games action
Record ID:
331998
ITALY: OLYMPIC GAMES - Preparations in Turin for another day of Winter Games action
- Title: ITALY: OLYMPIC GAMES - Preparations in Turin for another day of Winter Games action
- Date: 12th February 2006
- Summary: TURIN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 12, 2006)(REUTERS) WIDE OF POLICE IN FRONT OF OLYMPIC STADIUM FLAME PEOPLE JOGGING APARTMENT BLOCK WITH ITALIAN FLAGS ON WINDOWS CLOSE OF ITALIAN FLAG FAMILY TAKING PHOTOS OUTSIDE OLYMPIC STADIUM FLAME TURIN RESIDENT WIDE OF OLYMPIC STADIUM MAN BUYING NEWSPAPERS CLOSE UP OF NEWSPAPER OLYMPIC SKATING VENUE "PALAVELA" OLYMPIC DISPLAY OF SKATES YOUNG WOMEN TAKING PICTURES OF TURIN WIDE OF MOUNTAINS
- Embargoed: 27th February 2006 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAEC32F8VGT5PTKFHV3LMIOZIO7
- Story Text: Heartache and euphoria swept through the Winter Olympics in almost equal measure on Sunday (February 12) as competition at the sporting extravaganza got underway.
Germany won the first two golds of the Games but while tears of joy glistened at medal ceremonies, those of a more bitter variety were shed over a doping ban and administrative suspensions.
U.S. first lady Laura Bush was in town to see Chad Hedrick win America's first gold, in the 5,000 metres speedskating, while history was made at the figure skating when U.S. pair Rena Inoue and John Baldwin became the first to complete a throw triple Axel at a Winter Olympics.
It wasn't all joy for the U.S., however. Banned skeleton rider Zach Lund fought back the tears as he told Reuters how he had been forced to pack up and quit the Olympic Village on Friday night in front of his team mates and friends.
German cross-country skier Evi Sachenbacher Stehle was also beaten by CAS rather than a fellow competitor.
The German team's appeal had been based on the assertion that she has a naturally higher count of red blood cells and should not have been suspended.
Speedskater Hedrick's victory in the 5,000 metres was a first step towards matching Eric Heiden's feat of five gold medals at one Winter Olympic Games, in 1980.
The 25-year-old said his first Olympic race had made him so jittery he began crying before taking to the ice.
The U.S. team are predicted to win another mammoth haul of medals at the Winter Games and they were momentarily lent another champion on Saturday.
When Canadian Jennifer Heil won gold at the women's freestyle skiing moguls, the course announcer said she represented the United States. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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