torino 2006

From March 10 to 19, Torino, Pinerolo, Pragelato and Sestriere will host the competitions where the champions of the Paralympic winter sports will play a leading role

The Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games, which will be held from March 10-19, were presented today at the Carignano Theatre of Torino, at the presence of Piemonte’s Institutions represented by the Mayor of Torino Sergio Chiamparino, Luca Pancalli, President of the Italian Paralympic Committee, Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee, Tiziana Nasi, President of the Organising Committee for the Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games.

Huge presence of leading figures from institutions and sport, including the full Juventus formation accompanied by Chairman Antonio Giraudo, a delegation of Torino Calcio led by Vice President Trombetta and captain Brevi, Alberto Tomba, Stefania Belmondo, Manuela Di Centa, Piero Gros, Paolo De Chiesa, a representative of the BigMat Kerakoll Chieri, Melania Corradini (flag bearer at the Paralympic Winter Games), Alvise De Vidi (4 Paralympic golds, 2 silvers and 3 bronzes), Orazio Fagone (gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games of Lillehammer and currently in the ice sledge hockey national team) and many other athletes from the Paralympic world, in addition, Candido Cannavò, Andrea Pininfarina who accompanied the Paralympic Torch.

The Torino’s edition of the Paralympic Games is particularly meaningful as the numbers representing it are already marking a record compared to previous editions: 10 days of events; 5 disciplines (alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, ice sledge hockey, curling); 4 Municipalities hosting the competitions (Torino, Sestriere, Pragelato, Pinerolo); 2 Paralympic Villages (in Sestriere and Torino); 58 medals to be won; 1,300 people expected including athletes, guides, technicians and sport managers representing 40 nations; 3,000 volunteers; 1,000 representatives of the IPC (International Paralympic Committee), of the National Paralympic Committees and the Federations; 1,000 journalists and Media operators; 1,000 guests and sponsor representatives; 200,000 spectators expected. The television rights of the Torino 2006 Paralympic Games have been purchased in all continents, including Africa and, for the first time, in South America, to such an extent that, at media coverage level, this edition has now become the third biggest sporting event of 2006, after the Olympic Games and the Football World Championships.


“The Paralympic Games are a sporting, social and cultural event of major importance in the calendar of today’s world sport - comments Tiziana Nasi, President of the Torino 2006 Paralympic Committee – and they are the natural continuation and completion of the Olympic Games. Indeed, the values conveyed by the Paralympic Movement go beyond sheer sporting values and lead to regard people with a disability with greater attention.

Sport, especially when practised at such a high competitive level, goes to show how there are only “different abilities” rather than “minor abilities”. “Two months away from a sporting event that we have eagerly been waiting for years, I cannot but express my sincerest thank-you to all those political and institutional but also private realities that have contributed to turning our dream into reality – adds Luca Pancalli, President of the Italian Paralympic Committee. The Comune, the Provincia, the Regione and the Bank Institutions involved in the project have given a major boost to an organisational structure that has now been in full swing for months, so much so that I can say I am expecting a truly unforgettable Italian edition of the Paralympic Games. The Italian Paralympic Committee is doing everything in its power so that the Italian Team will be on top form. I don’t like making predictions. I will leave the forecasts of any possible Italian medals to others. However, I am confident that the sport, the feats of our athletes, the joys and disappointments of hundreds of athletes in this edition of the Paralympic Games will be the unparalleled message that Torino will be re-launching to the whole world. The right to sport for every citizen will be highlighted in its entirety. I would like to thank you both in my capacity as a sports man and as a sports manager. I also thank you as a sports fan and as an inveterate enthusiast of every sports discipline. We are ready to take the plunge and throw ourselves into a magical adventure. It will be great, in two month’s time, to wake up and embrace an entire city and experience with it a dream called Paralympic Games”.

The importance of the Games is also proven by RAI’s commitment, with the guarantee of “live broadcasts” of the most important ceremonies, such as the lighting of the Paralympic Flame (March 1 2006) and the Opening Ceremony (March 10 2006 at 6.00 pm). The TV programmes of the State-owned broadcasting station will transmit all the competitions on a daily basis both on unencoded broadcasting and on satellite: they will promote the event with “specials”, promotional adverts and a whole series of communication initiatives of great significance, not just sporting significance.