AND LOOKING BACK AT TORINO...

Well the Games have passed and everyone is exhausted… the 2500 athletes, the 20,000 volunteers, the 10,000 media, and the millions of TV viewers. 

And all the tireless efforts of the Torino Olympic Committee, who danced with the IOC for seven years since being selected as the host city in 1999, paid off as the city and the surrounding Alps successfully opened-up its doors to the world for this 16-day period.  Sure there were some last-minute preparations and some rough logistical edges (reminiscent of Athens in 2004), but the populace braced itself for the incoming flood of athletes, officials, media, spectators, and tourists.  The city’s piazzas and the majestic Alps welcomed all to this quadrennial event where cultures merged in celebration of these Olympic Games.

These Winter Olympic sports are indeed dangerous and accidents frequently happen – much more so than in the Summer Games.  When was the last time you read about a badminton player abruptly exiting the competition via an airlift to a hospital!?!?  For some, these Games were just another world competition – having participated in several past Olympics and World Cups.  For others, however, these Games proved to be a success, whether achieving their own personal bests, or in winning a medal – after several years of training, pain, and sacrifice.

Overall, the USA team competed fairly well.  Although many predicted medal success approaching the record American total of 34 medals in Salt Lake City in 2002, the team’s 25 podium finishes landed it in second place (behind Germany) among all countries.  Boosted by the radical performances by the Snowboarders (7 medals) and the riveting races by the speed skaters (long track: 7, short track: 3), the U.S. team reveled in its achievements.   Also, Figure Skating, with its two silver medal winners, buffeted the U.S. success.  And two of  the teams, Women’s Ice Hockey and Men’s Curling, earned well-deserved bronzes!

In contrast, the Alpine Skiing and the Sledding Teams (luge, bobsled, and skeleton) did not meet pre-Olympic expectations.   Rolling into the Olympics behind recent World Cup successes, it was hoped that far more than three medals would have been won across the 18 events.  The Alpine organization optimistically broadcasted a goal of eight medals – only to be upended by disappointing falls and disqualifications on albeit treacherous slopes by skiers aspiring to podium finishes.

As the U.S. team returns back home, each athlete will reflect on the experience and decide whether another four years of:  sacrifice, putting life-on-hold, and living paycheck to paycheck is worth it.  Some have already proclaimed Olympic retirement – for example, Bobsled driver Todd Hays, and members of the Women’s Hockey team.  Others look ahead to the 2010 Calgary Olympic Games to be hosted by neighboring Canada.

The United States Olympic Committee, along with the eight US Winter Sports Federations, will undoubtedly assess the results, and in turn, begin better readying its teams for Calgary.  Organizational, technology, and budget challenges abound as long strides begin in preparation.  Furthermore, the USOC will also focus on instilling team unity, cohesiveness, and spirit – in the wake of the fall-out from Bode Miller’s brash nonchalance about his performance, Jeret “Speedy” Peterson’s ejection from the Games for rowdy behavior, and some other untimely  mental melt-downs or physical break-downs by its athletes.

So, as our memories of these Torino 2006 Olympic Games fade, we leave this wonderful world filled with astounding competitions, splendid fanfare, as well as cultural celebrations, and reluctantly return to our daily lives much more invigorated by what we’ve experienced.  For the young and old alike, we marvel at these Games and seek to instill the positives in our daily lives – whether it be setting goals for ourselves, striving to excel in all we do, forming closer bonds with friends and loved ones, or enjoying life to the fullest.   Farewell, Torino!  Molte Grazie!