There are still problems to resolve, particularly in
transportation, before the Winter Olympics begin Friday.
Turin and the surrounding mountain venues are generally ready,
however, organizing chief Valentino Castellani said Monday.
"We are very satisfied and committed," Castellani said. "We
don't have any structural problems. Everything is working. ... We
will have always some small problems to solve. What is important is
to solve them quickly."
International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge offered
his endorsement.
"Like with all games, the final stretch is always the most
difficult one," he said. "Here and there, a couple of issues need
to be solved. But there are still a few days until the opening
ceremony. I'm very confident these will be very good games."
Cesare Vaciago, CEO of the organizing committee, said the
biggest problem involved transportation — getting Italian drivers
to respect the lanes reserved for Olympic vehicles and making sure
bus drivers know their way around.
More than 2,000 bus drivers have been drafted in from all around
Italy, and many are not familiar with the local roads. In addition,
organizers have had to scramble to find accommodation for the
drivers near the bus depots.
Rogge rejected suggestions that Turin had left things too
late.
"What is important is that the fundamentals are very good," he
said. "There is no structural issue. There is nothing that cannot
be solved in a matter of days. I'm confident everything will be
done by the opening ceremony."
Castellani expressed confidence that the Olympic torch relay —
which has been hounded by various protests — would proceed smoothly
the rest of the week. On Sunday, the relay diverted its route in a
northern valley due to demonstrations opposed to a high-speed rail
link.
"Someone lost an occasion to celebrate with us," Castellani
said. "I don't feel you should use such a symbolic occasion in this
way."
So far Ahn has played just 49 minutes in two substitute
appearances for Duisburg, third from bottom of the Bundesliga, but
manager Jurgen Kohler is confident the striker will be a
success.
"At Metz Ahn played out of position," Kohler explained. "He is
best playing as a second striker and I am sure he will score some
important goals for us.
"He has impressed me with his athleticism."
With the World Cup finals beginning on June 9 Ahn will be keen
to impress and have the chance to repeat his golden goal heroics
four years on.
(AFP via CRI?English February 8, 2006)