2006 Winter Olympics in Torino
Ranked #9,286 in Sports & Recreation, #234,352 overall
The twentieth Winter Olympics took place in Torino, Italy in 2006. This city is also known as Turin. As we look forward to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, we might want to take a look back at the last winter Olympics. Some of our favorite athletes from these games are sure to join us in 2010.
2508 athletes representing 80 countries participated in the Torino games, which lasted for 16 days, from February 7th to February 26th. These games had lower ratings than in previous years. One of the biggest competitor's for ratings was the sixth season of American Idol. The 2006 Torino Olympics had stiff ratings with other reality shows as well, including Dancing with the Stars and Survivor.
Opening Ceremonies
The motto for the Torino Games was Passion Lives Here, and that theme was used during the opening ceremonies. The opening ceremonies featured skaters in red forming a heart shape, and sparks flying from their helmets, symbolizing the spark of passion.
The next segment of the opening ceremonies were inspired by Torino's location in the Alps. The last winter Olympics to be held in the Alps were the 1992 games in Albertville, France. Pine trees, snow, and cows were also symbolically portrayed in the second segment of the opening ceremonies.
The opening ceremonies then turned to tribute the nation of Italy, and then Torino. The sparks of passion then returned, and acrobats climbed on the Olympic Rings.
The next segment of the opening ceremonies were inspired by Torino's location in the Alps. The last winter Olympics to be held in the Alps were the 1992 games in Albertville, France. Pine trees, snow, and cows were also symbolically portrayed in the second segment of the opening ceremonies.
The opening ceremonies then turned to tribute the nation of Italy, and then Torino. The sparks of passion then returned, and acrobats climbed on the Olympic Rings.
More Videos from the Opening Ceremonies
In German
Sports
As people's tastes change, the Olympic sports change with them. These were the sports that the athletes took part in the 2006 Torino Olympics:
Alpine skiing
Figure Skating
Short Track Speed Skating
Biathlon
Freestyle Skiing
Skeleton
Bobsleigh
Ice hockey
Ski jumping
Cross-country skiing
Luge
Snowboarding
Curling
Nordic Combined
Speed Skating
Participating Nations
80 countries participated in the 2006 Torino Olympics. It was the only Olympics for Serbia and Montenegro, as Montenegro became independent after the Olympics. It was the first Winter Olympics for Albania, Ethiopia, and Madagascar.
Albania
Cyprus
Kazakhstan
Romania
Algeria
Czech Republic
Kenya
Russia
Andorra
Denmark
Kyrgyzstan
San Marino
Argentina
Estonia
Latvia
Senegal
Armenia
Ethiopia
Lebanon
Serbia and Montenegro
Australia
Finland
Liechtenstein
Slovakia
Austria
France
Lithuania
Slovenia
Azerbaijan
Georgia
Luxembourg
South Africa
Belarus
Germany
Macedonia
South Korea
Belgium
Great Britain
Madagascar
Spain
Bermuda
Greece
Moldova
Sweden
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Hong Kong
Monaco
Switzerland
Brazil
Hungary
Mongolia
Tajikistan
Bulgaria
Iceland
Nepal
Thailand
Canada
India
Netherlands
Turkey
Chile
Iran
New Zealand
Ukraine
China
Ireland
North Korea
United States
Chinese Taipei
Israel
Norway
Virgin Islands
Costa Rica
Italy
Poland
Uzbekistan
Croatia
Japan
Portugal
Venezuela
Lascelles Brown
In the 2006 Torino Olympics, Lascelles Brown became the first Jamaican-born athlete to win a Winter Olympic medal. His driver was Pierre Lueders. He took the silver in the two-man bobsleigh competition for Canada. Torino was Brown's second Winter Olympics. He participated on the Jamaican bobsled team in Salt Lake City, but became a Canadian citizen in 2005. They were only .21 seconds behind the German team that placed first, and .14 seconds ahead of the Swiss team.
Skiing
There were so many skiing events at the 2006 Torino Olympics, the casual viewer might have trouble keeping track of them all. Here is a basic description of all the events:
Alpine Skiing - Alpine skiers are in it for speed. There's the downhill event, where skiers try to ski down the hill as fast as possible. There are several slalom events, where skiers have to maneuver around gates as quickly as possible. Slalom events include regular slalom, giant slalom, and Super G. In the combined event, skiers do one downhill run and two slalom runs, all in the same day.
Cross-Country Skiing - cross country skiers are not going downhill. They compete in events of several distances, as well as a relay.
Freestyle Skiing - The freestyle events are aerials and moguls. Aerials are ski acrobatics, mogul skiers ski over a bumpy course with speed and have to include two jumps.
Nordic Combined - Nordic combined is a combination of cross-country skiing and ski jumping.
Ski jumping - Ski jumpers have to jump far on skis, but they get points for style as well.
Alpine Skiing - Alpine skiers are in it for speed. There's the downhill event, where skiers try to ski down the hill as fast as possible. There are several slalom events, where skiers have to maneuver around gates as quickly as possible. Slalom events include regular slalom, giant slalom, and Super G. In the combined event, skiers do one downhill run and two slalom runs, all in the same day.
Cross-Country Skiing - cross country skiers are not going downhill. They compete in events of several distances, as well as a relay.
Freestyle Skiing - The freestyle events are aerials and moguls. Aerials are ski acrobatics, mogul skiers ski over a bumpy course with speed and have to include two jumps.
Nordic Combined - Nordic combined is a combination of cross-country skiing and ski jumping.
Ski jumping - Ski jumpers have to jump far on skis, but they get points for style as well.
Anja Pärson
During the 2006 Torino Olympics, Anja Pärson took three medals for Sweden in Alpine skiing. She won the gold medal in slalom, the bronze in the downhill event, and another bronze in the combined event. She previously won two bronze medals in the Salt Lake City Olympics, and will be vying for a spot in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. For more information on what she is doing, visit Anja Pärson's official web site. Julia Mancuso
Team USA only took home two medals in alpine skiing in the 2006 Torino Olympics, and they were both gold. Julia Mancuso took home one of them. Mancuso was the skier at the 2006 Olympics wearing the tiara. She was the fastest skier in the women's giant slalom. Tanja Poutiainen of Finland placed behind her, a mere .67 seconds slower.
She is still skiing on the A-team for Team USA, so you might end up seeing her racing (perhaps with a tiara) in Vancouver.
She is still skiing on the A-team for Team USA, so you might end up seeing her racing (perhaps with a tiara) in Vancouver.
Austrian Slalom Sweep
The men's slalom belonged to Austria in the 2006 Torino Olympics, as they walked away with the gold, silver, and the bronze. Benjamin Raich took the gold in this event, as well as in the giant slalom. Reinfried Herbst took the silver, and Rainer Schönfelder filled out the podium with the bronze medal (he also took home the bronze medal in the combined event).The Austrian team ended up taking home 14 medals in alpine skiing events alone. Bode Miller, who had been hyped up as one of the favorite Americans in this event, did not finish.
Bode Miller
Didn't Live Up to the Hype
A lot of people knew who Bode Miller was before the 2006 Torino Olympics, even if they weren't skiing fans. Bode Miller was spotlighted on 60 Minutes and other television shows before the event. He was known as a reckless and unconventional skier. Americans had hope that he would bring home medals for the United States.Alas, his performance at the Olympics didn't live up to the hype. Although he did receive two silver medals in the 2002 Winter Olympics, he didn't take home a medal at Torino. He finished fifth in the downhill race, was disqualified during the Combined event, got a DNF (did not finish) when he competed in the Super G, missed a gate for another DNF in the slalom, and tied for sixth place when competing in the Giant Slalom.
Bode is currently working on other projects in his life, including creating an organic farm and a winery. He has not given up skiing yet, but said in 2008 that "the fire goes away after a while". He recently stated on his blog that he had some decisions to make about the upcoming skiing season. He may or may not decide to return for the Vancouver Olympics.
Ted Ligety
Ted Ligety took home the gold medal for the United States in the combined alpine skiing event. Ivica Kostelić took home the bronze in that event, and Rainer Schönfelder, who helped the Austrians sweep the slalom event by winning the bronze, won the bronze in the combined event as well.
Although Bode Miller was hyped as the American to beat in the 2006 Torino Olympics, Ligety ended up with the win. Miller straddled a gate in the first slalom run and was disqualified. Both are still skiing; you will probably see them return in the Vancouver Olympics in 2010.
Although Bode Miller was hyped as the American to beat in the 2006 Torino Olympics, Ligety ended up with the win. Miller straddled a gate in the first slalom run and was disqualified. Both are still skiing; you will probably see them return in the Vancouver Olympics in 2010.
Skiing Unites Missing Boy With Father
Amazing Story of Toby Dawson
In 1981, a man named Kim Jae-su lost his three-year-old son, Kim Bong-seok, in a crowded Korean marketplace. He looked all over for his son, scouring the orphanages, but never found him. Until 2006.
In the 2006 Torino Olympics, Toby Dawson received the bronze medal in the moguls. Half a world away, some Koreans noticed something... Dawson looked Eerily familiar to Kim Jae-su. Kim Bong-seok, his missing boy, would have been about the same age. Toby Dawson was adopted from South Korea. Could there be a connection?
It turns out, there was. DNA tests proved that Kim Jae-su was Toby Dawson's biological father. The two reunited on February 28, 2007. Dawson was also able to meet his younger brother, Kim Hyun-cheol, for the first time at the reunion.
Read more about the father-son reunion on BBC.
In the 2006 Torino Olympics, Toby Dawson received the bronze medal in the moguls. Half a world away, some Koreans noticed something... Dawson looked Eerily familiar to Kim Jae-su. Kim Bong-seok, his missing boy, would have been about the same age. Toby Dawson was adopted from South Korea. Could there be a connection?
It turns out, there was. DNA tests proved that Kim Jae-su was Toby Dawson's biological father. The two reunited on February 28, 2007. Dawson was also able to meet his younger brother, Kim Hyun-cheol, for the first time at the reunion.
Read more about the father-son reunion on BBC.
Like Brother, Like Sister
Manuela De Centa, who won two gold, two silver, and one bronze medal for Italy in Lillehammer, a bronze medal in Albertville, and a bronze medal in Nagano, had a unique opportunity in Torino, even though she was not a competitor: she got to present a gold medal to her brother. Georgio Di Centa won the gold medal for the 50km cross-country skiing race, and Manuela, a member of the International Olympic Committee at the time, had been scheduled to award the medal to the winner. This was Georgio's second gold medal for the 2006 Torino Olympics, as he had already taken gold in the 4x10km relay.
Torino Stuff on Ebay
Figure Skating
There are several different figure skating events in the Olympic games. These include men's singles, ladies' singles, pairs' skating, and ice dancing.
The scoring system changed between the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002 and the 2006 Torino Olympics. In 2002, a French judge confessed to giving the Russian team extra points. The scoring system was changed to give more emphasis on technical difficulty.
The scoring system changed between the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002 and the 2006 Torino Olympics. In 2002, a French judge confessed to giving the Russian team extra points. The scoring system was changed to give more emphasis on technical difficulty.
Kwan Drops Out
Injury Keeps Her from Competition
Michelle Kwan, after taking home the silver in the 1998 Nagano Olympics, and the bronze in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, ended up dropping out of competition for the 2006 Torino Olympics. She was injured and was unable to compete. She gave her spot to her alternate, Emily Hughes (sister of Sarah Hughes, gold medal winner from Salt Lake City), who ended up placing seventh.Photo by Kevin Rushforth.
Shizuka Arakawa
Shizuka Arakawa beat out Sasha Cohen in the ladies figure skating competition, becoming the first Japanese figure skater to win a gold medal. She was only the second figure skater to win a medal for Japan (after Midori Ito, who took home the silver in Albertville), and was only the second Japanese woman to take home a gold medal (skier Tae Satoya won the gold in Nagano in women's moguls). She won the only medal for Japan in the Torino Olympics.In part, she won the gold because she didn't fall. Both Sasha Cohen and Irena Slutskaya, who were the favorites, fell during their routines.
After the 2006 Torino Olympics, Arakawa retired, so we won't be seeing her in Vancouver. She currently works as a sportscaster on Japanese television.
Photo by Kevin Rushforth.
Watch Arakawa Take Gold
powered by Youtube
Sasha Cohen Falls, Takes Silver
15 seconds into the figure skating finals, Sasha Cohen fell, ruining her chances for gold in the 2006 Torino Olympics (she does plan on coming back for Vancouver). Cohen's loss was Japan's game, as Shizuka Arakawa was able to take home the first Olympic gold for Japan as a result. Irena Slutskaya took home the bronze.For the 2006 Olympics, a new scoring system was introduced. Arakawa received 191.34 points overall, while Cohen received 183.36.
Photo by David W. Carmichael.
Curling
Curling is not ordinarily a sport associated with the United States, but the Men's US Curling team performed well in the 2006 Torino Olympics, taking home the bronze medal when they defeated Great Britain. This was the first curling medal ever for Team USA. The Canadians, who often do well in this sport, beat Finland in the finals to take home the gold.Sweden's women's curling team took the gold for their country, followed by Switzerland with the silver. Canada beat Norway for the bronze medal.
Snowboardcross
Snowboardcross, also known as boardercross, debuted at the 2006 Torino Olympics, although it had been a sport at the Winter X-Games since 1997. Snowboardcross is a racing event where snowboarders have to race down an incline that is often littered with berms, drops, and turns. Seth Wescott of the United States took the first men's gold in the event, and Tanja Frieden of Switzerland took the first gold medal for the women. Lindsey Jacobellis took silver after showboating led to a bad landing.
Jason Smith and Men's Snowboardcross
While Jason Smith didn't win a medal, he was the person that I was rooting for in snowboardcross. His sister is Christy Smith, who appeared in Survivor Amazon, and so far, has been the only deaf contestant. He ended up placing sixth. His roommate, Seth Wescott, took the gold for Team USA. Radoslav Židek came in second for Slovakia, and Paul-Henri Delerue earned the bronze for France.The 2006 Torino Olympics were the first Olympics where snowboardcross was an event. It has been a part of the X-games since 1997.
Illustration by Parutakupiu.
Lindsey Jacobellis
Women's Snowboardcross - Showboating for Silver
Lindsey Jacobellis was set to get the gold medal in women's snowboardcross. Snowboardcross made its Olympic debut at the 2006 Torino Olympics, and Jacobellis was at the top of her game. Unfortunately, a bit of showboating caused her to fall, and she ended up taking second place.
Snowboardcross is a sport where a group of snowboarders, usually four, race down an inclined course. The course usually contains jumps, berms, and turns, and is designed to test the snowboarders' abilities. Often, the snowboarders collide with each other.
In the middle of the race, Jacobellis grabbed her board and showed off a little. Unfortunately, she fell upon landing. Although she was well in front of the other racers before the fall, the wipeout gave enough time for Tanja Frieden to race past her and take the gold. Jacobellis ended up with the silver medal.
Jacobellis is still involved in snowboardcross, and took the gold medal at the 2009 X games. More than likely, we will end up seeing her at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Snowboardcross is a sport where a group of snowboarders, usually four, race down an inclined course. The course usually contains jumps, berms, and turns, and is designed to test the snowboarders' abilities. Often, the snowboarders collide with each other.
In the middle of the race, Jacobellis grabbed her board and showed off a little. Unfortunately, she fell upon landing. Although she was well in front of the other racers before the fall, the wipeout gave enough time for Tanja Frieden to race past her and take the gold. Jacobellis ended up with the silver medal.
Jacobellis is still involved in snowboardcross, and took the gold medal at the 2009 X games. More than likely, we will end up seeing her at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Torino on Amazon.com
Speed Skating
There were two types of speed skating events at the 2006 Torino Olympics: speed skating and short track speed skating. In speed skating, skaters race in their own lanes against the clock, striving for the fastest time. In short track speed skating, skaters race in groups, sometimes collide with each other, and the first person past the finish line wins.
Shani Davis and the Team Pursuit Controversy
Shani Davis did pretty well in his first Olympics. He brought home gold for the 1000m speed skating, and silver for the 1500m race. He was criticized for not being "patriotic" because he didn't skate in the team pursuit competition, which placed seventh. This criticism was unfounded.Davis had never been named for the team pursuit competition, and had never skated in team pursuit before. Nevertheless, his coaches named him as an alternate for the event. As an alternate, he would have been eligible to skate in team pursuit if someone was injured. Since nobody was injured, he was not eligible to skate.
Davis says that one of the reasons why he didn't want to skate in team pursuit was to allow two other skaters who had not qualified in individual races to compete in the games.
Photo of Shani Davis by Mingo Hagen.
Men's Short Track Skating 1500m
It's a long video, covers both the heats and the finals.
powered by Youtube
Who do You Want to Return?
Loading poll. Please Wait...
Closing Ceremonies
The 2006 Torino Olympics closing ceremonies began with a "Carnivale Italiano". The first part contained symbols of the ice, representing the Alps of Northern Italy, and the sea, representing the Mediterranean. Acrobats performed, and dancers danced.
Bocelli and the Olympic Flame
powered by Youtube
More Scenes from the Closing Ceremonies
Medal Count
These were the top 11 medal earning countries at the 2006 Torino Olympics. There was a tie between France and the Netherlands at the tenth spot:
Country
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Total
Germany
11
12
6
29
United States
9
9
7
25
Austria
9
7
7
23
Russia
8
6
8
22
Canada
7
2
5
14
Sweden
7
2
5
14
South Korea
6
3
2
11
Switzerland
5
4
5
14
Italy
5
0
6
11
France
3
2
4
9
Netherlands
3
2
4
9
Other Olympic Lenses
For More Information
Visit the following sites if you wish to find out more about the 2006 Torino Olympics:
- Torino on Yahoo!
- Looks just like they left it in 2006.
- Torino on USA Today
- Left the way it was in 2006.
- Torino on Time.com
- Another view from 2006.
Do You Remember the Games?
submit
Blogging about the 2006 Torino Olympics
- American women are hoping to match success of U.S. ice dancers
- The last time American women were on the podium at the world championships was 2006 in Calgary -- the first worlds after the Torino Olympics -- when Kimmie Meissner and Sasha Cohen won gold and silver. Two seasons later, at worlds in 2008, ...
- Duddy confident with new tricks
- Skip for the opposing team, Darryl Neighbour, gold medalist at the Torino Olympics, is on the national team and was one of the instructors at the development camp as was Sonja Gaudet, gold medalist at the Torino and Vancouver Winter Olympics who will ...
- Digit's winning formula: Fire and ice
- Kim Insalaco made it to the 2006 Torino Olympics thanks to the push of Murphy's tough-love motivation. "She told me I was a long shot," Insalaco said. "I wanted to prove her wrong. I think she said it on purpose so I'd work harder.
- Ottawa's Alfredsson scores twice in All-Star Game
- Internationally, he played on the 2006 Swedish national team that won the Torino Olympics. "He's one of the guys that started people in Sweden starting to recognize the NHL," said Karlsson, a fellow Swede. Alfredsson, who grabbed all of the Senators ...
Follow me on Twitter!
The World Around Us
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byby Brookelorren
Brookelorren
Brooke Lorren runs an Olympics blog at The World Competes.
- 269 featured lenses
- Winner of 24 trophies!
- Top lens » Glenn Beck's Most Recommended Books
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- All About Olympic Gymnastics - "to exercise naked." All About Olympic Gymnastics - "to exercise naked."
- Olympic Medals Olympic Medals
- Sapporo International Snow Festival -- Niseko Skiing, Hokkaido Japan's Snow! Sapporo International Snow Festival -- Niseko Skiing, Hokkaido Japan's Snow!
- About Olympic Snowboarding - Half-pipe - Cross - Parallel Slalom About Olympic Snowboarding - Half-pipe - Cross - Parallel Slalom
- The Ultimate Olympics Games Group Headquarters The Ultimate Olympics Games Group Headquarters
- Athletes Who Made The Olympic Games History Athletes Who Made The Olympic Games History
