The Olympic flame has been handed over to Italian officials for transport to the Winter Games in Turin, after a ceremony that included actresses dressed as priestesses from ancient Greece.
The ceremony was held on Tuesday in the restored ancient stadium in Athens, where the modern summer Olympics started in 1896.
The flame was handed to Turin organising chief, Valentino Castellani, at a ceremony attended by Greek President Karolos Papoulias and the heads of the Greek and Italian Olympic committees.
The 7,022 mile relay through Italy began yesterday.
The flame will be carried by 10,000 torchbearers, gondolas, a Ferrari sports car and a cavalry regiment.
The final torchbearer, whose name has not been revealed, will light the flame at the opening ceremony in Turin on February 10th.
Friday, December 09, 2005
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Over-age
Fifa has decided that men's Olympic football teams will no longer be allowed to field three over-age players.
Argentina won gold at the Athens Games with three over-age players, but for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and London in 2012 all players must be under 23.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter said:
"We will ask the Fifa Congress to abolish the three over-age players."
No age restrictions apply for the women's tournament.
Argentina won gold at the Athens Games with three over-age players, but for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and London in 2012 all players must be under 23.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter said:
"We will ask the Fifa Congress to abolish the three over-age players."
No age restrictions apply for the women's tournament.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Olympic Threat
Hundreds of paramilitary police have broken up a camp protesting against a high-speed railway through the Italian Alps.
The carabinieri dragged demonstrators from their tents in the village of Venaus and 20 people, including five police officers, were taken to hospital after the clashes.
Locals are also opposed to the planned £10BN rail link between Lyons and Turin. They rushed to the punch up, summoned by church bells and text messages from an anti-train website.
Several factories closed in sympathy strikes yesterday in the Susa Valley at the centre of the protest and in Turin, 40 miles away, while demonstrators blocked motorways and railway lines.
Protesters have pledged to disrupt the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin.
Some of February's Olympic skiing events are due to be held in the valley where the demonstrations are taking place.
The majority of the valley's 60,000 residents, including mayors and priests, are against the tunnel.
The carabinieri dragged demonstrators from their tents in the village of Venaus and 20 people, including five police officers, were taken to hospital after the clashes.
Locals are also opposed to the planned £10BN rail link between Lyons and Turin. They rushed to the punch up, summoned by church bells and text messages from an anti-train website.
Several factories closed in sympathy strikes yesterday in the Susa Valley at the centre of the protest and in Turin, 40 miles away, while demonstrators blocked motorways and railway lines.
Protesters have pledged to disrupt the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin.
Some of February's Olympic skiing events are due to be held in the valley where the demonstrations are taking place.
The majority of the valley's 60,000 residents, including mayors and priests, are against the tunnel.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
WiBro Test
WiBro, wireless broadband, will be tested during the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics.
Telecom Italia has signed a deal with Samsung Electronics, to test out South Korea's answer to WiMax technology. The implementation would be the first in Europe.
WiBro allegedly offers wireless data speeds of up to 30 megabits per second, and work is being done to make the standard compatible with WiMax.
Samsung launched a trial version of the service in South Korea last month, and unveiled the first WiBro-enabled phone at that time.
Telecom Italia has signed a deal with Samsung Electronics, to test out South Korea's answer to WiMax technology. The implementation would be the first in Europe.
WiBro allegedly offers wireless data speeds of up to 30 megabits per second, and work is being done to make the standard compatible with WiMax.
Samsung launched a trial version of the service in South Korea last month, and unveiled the first WiBro-enabled phone at that time.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Rogge Stands Up For China
Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee, has asked that critics of China's human rights keep perspective.
This was in response to Sir Matthew Pinsent's report that he had seen child gymnasts being beaten by their coaches.
Rogge said that he condemned physical abuse, and has ordered an inquiry into Pinsent's allegations.
Rogge is quoted as saying:
"While it is not for us to condone what might not be acceptable, you also have to look at the cultural factor. I don't need to remind you of the fact that physical punishment was still in use in English public schools until, I believe, the 1970s."
Adding:
"The IOC has been very clear in saying to the Chinese authorities that the IOC stands for human rights and that we would hope that they would make the maximum progress."
That's alright then!
This was in response to Sir Matthew Pinsent's report that he had seen child gymnasts being beaten by their coaches.
Rogge said that he condemned physical abuse, and has ordered an inquiry into Pinsent's allegations.
Rogge is quoted as saying:
"While it is not for us to condone what might not be acceptable, you also have to look at the cultural factor. I don't need to remind you of the fact that physical punishment was still in use in English public schools until, I believe, the 1970s."
Adding:
"The IOC has been very clear in saying to the Chinese authorities that the IOC stands for human rights and that we would hope that they would make the maximum progress."
That's alright then!
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