Olympiad 2006: results and achievements

Any Olympic competition is a welcomean event not only for spectators and fans, but first of all for the athletes themselves. For 4 years they are waiting for these competitions, and for many of them they become a moment of truth, when it is necessary to show what you have learned and in what you surpass the opponent. Was not an exception and the Olympics 2006. Where did it go and what positive moments did the Olympics remember?

Turin, Italy

Winter Olympics was given to the Winter Olympicsby a majority vote of IOC members to the Italian Turin. The Swiss city of Sion also claimed to hold the Winter Olympics, but the officials of the International Olympic Committee laid this honorable mission to Turin. As later recalled the members of the government of Italy and the city of Turin, this fact served as an impetus to the development of the city's infrastructure and economy.

More than $ 1.5 million was allocated for the construction of the necessary buildings. The fact that the metro was completely rebuilt in Turin has no analogues in the world.

Grand opening

Olympics 2006 - winter fairy tale, whichIt was remembered by many for the solemn opening. It was attended by many famous Italian and European artists: Luciano Pavarotti, Sophia Loren and others. To ignite the Olympic flame was the honor of the Italian athlete Stephanie Belmondo, who was the Olympic champion in the ski sport of 1992 and 2002.

The opening was held on February 10, and before the paradeThe Olympic delegations were able to enjoy the bright show, which was called "Sparks of Passion". Dmitry Dorofeev, a Russian skater, was honored to carry the flag of the Russian delegation. It should be noted that this fact had a positive impact on Dmitry's sports career, and in 3 days he won a silver medal at a distance of 500 meters, which happened to Russian skaters for the first time in the last 12 years. So the role of the flag bearer can be considered happy for Russian athletes.

Olympiad 2006: results

For the first time at this winter Olympics there wereathletes from such exotic warm countries as Madagascar and Ethiopia are represented. In total, 2663 people from 80 countries took part in the competitions. The 2006 Olympics gave birth to new species that were first included in the competition program. In snowboarding, this discipline was the board cross; in biathlon - a race with a common start, well, skiers were able to test their strength in the team sprint. Also for the first time in the program was a team race with skaters. In total, 15 disciplines were declared in the Olympiad, 1026 medals were awarded to athletes.

Talismans of these competitions were Neve and Glitz,created by the Italian artist Pedro Albuquerque. It is also worth noting the original form of medals awarded to athletes. They were made in the form of a circle, in the middle of which there was a hole for the ribbon. They symbolized the Olympic rings, as well as piazza (Italian square), which in Italian cities is the center of social life for all people living in them. When an athlete put on a medal, this hole was just at the heart level, which belongs to the sport and is the focus of all his life's aspirations.

The successes of Russian athletes

The 2006 Olympics were very successful forathletes from Russia - the 4th team place in the overall medal standings. Each of the participants of the sports delegation gave all their strength to bring such a long-awaited medal to the common fund.

Evgeniya Medvedeva, the Russian skier, became thethe man who brought the first medal to the overall standings of the national team. Bronze in the duathlon was quite predictable, but Evgeni Dementiev's gold in the same discipline was a complete surprise. The 2006 Olympics brought Eugene and silver in the race with a skating run of 50 km.

In general, the performance of Russian skiers can becall successful: gold in the women's relay, silver Julia Chepalova in the mass start, bronze Alena Sidko in the sprint. Especially unexpected was the bronze in ski acrobatics, as Vladimir Lebedev was not among the alleged prize-winners in this form of freestyle.

Strongly made and the Russian national teamfigure skating - 2 gold in pair skating and ice dancing, predictable, but from that no less pleasant gold of Evgeni Plushenko and bronze of Irina Slutskaya, although here it was possible to argue. Irina beautifully rolled back her entire program, but the decision of the judges remained only the third.

But the men's sleighmen celebrated a real triumph. Albert Demchenko won the first medal for Russia for the entire time of participation of Russians in this discipline.

Olympiad 2006: disappointments

Probably the biggest disappointment andthe trouble was that the biathlete Olga Pyleva was found in the blood of doping. Her award was canceled, and the athlete herself for 2 years was disqualified by the decision of the International Olympic Committee.

And the hockey team disappointed - this time Russian hockey players went home without rewards.