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13.02.2006 - An Olympic day in Sestriere-Borgata and Cesana Pariol

russian version

An Olympic day in Sestriere-Borgata and Cesana Pariol

Feb 13 2006
A truly exciting second day of races on the Olympic mountains. The programme being substantial: at 10 the cross-country skiing began in Pragelato Plan with the ladies’ 15 km and at 12 it’s the men’s downhill in Borgata; in the early afternoon once again in Pragelato the 30 km men’s pursuit and in Bardonecchia the men’s half-pipe finals.

To finish the day off there was most the awaited contest of the day: the final heat of the luge in which Armin Zoeggeler was after a second Olympic gold, after the one in Salt Lake City. We didn’t make it in time to arrive for the women’s cross-country: the train which left from Lingotto for Pinerolo arrived in perfect time but with the shuttles taking to Pragelato the situation is a little more complicated. It is inevitable a little traffic should occur, minutes went by and we had to bodge the idea of the cross-country to go and see the Borgata contest. After passing the security check and inviting a brash German journalist to queue up like everyone else, you realise when you get to the finish area that the atmosphere is truly Olympic: music, crowded stands and fans with bells, flags and everything to welcome their national heroes to the best.
Among the most awaited, Austrian Hermann Meier, the stars ‘n stripes champion Bode Miller and useless to say, our Kristian Ghedina from which great things were expected. Unfortunately the race did not satisfy the expectations of the Italians: “Ghedo” is not on a good day and the absolute protagonist was surprisingly Antoine Dénariaz. But the participation of the public was in any case great and during the prize-giving and the French national anthem no-one hesitated to stand up and warmly applaud the new Borgata hero. After a tour in Sestriere and having found parties on every street corner there was only to choose where to go: in Bardonecchia to applaud Giacomo Kratter or in Cesana Pariol for the “missile Zoeggeler” running for gold? Armin won and the decision proved a good one. We get there via cabin lift and at the entrance it is a surprise to find great celebration.

At the end of the third heat Zoeggeler kept his lead and was a whisker away from Russian Demtschenko. In the wait for the final rush, athletes of all nationalities, workforce and public warmed up killing time by dancing and singing in circles, whilst a group of young artistes happily played rock music. On the stands they prepared to welcome the Italian hero but fans were also numerous for Russia, the US and Germany. The young and not so young wrapped in flags, good luck banners waving in the darkened sky and the cold not bothering anyone. Some resorted to the old grappa method, raising morale and thus temperature. But the most joyous moment came when the competition began: the cheering and yelled encouragement was for all athletes, particular sympathy being expressed for an Indian, Shiva Keshavan, enthusiastically cheered especially by the Italians. The final explosion came with the last luge: our Armin is a jet and hits the target, winning over the Russian by a scratch, raising the Italian flag to the public, delirious. At that moment there was not only Italy: the flags of all countries blending together with the yelling and the happiness from the podium. Now we have personally ascertained, the Olympics are truly miraculous.
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