XX Torino Winter Olympics

19.02.2006 As Fiat's home city of Turin continues to be at the focus of world attention, more than half a million people partied into the early hours of this morning
Singing, dancing, toasting and a size of crowd never seen before in the city, invaded Turin's centre untill the early hours of this morning: “La Notte Bianca” the Olympic 'White Night' was a huge success, an unprecedented event. One could say that the whole city was in the streets: 500,000 people, but probably even more challenged the biting cold conditions to celebrate the XX Olympic Winter Games. Fiat's hometown is truly the centre of the world for a fortnight.
 
After a gripping evening's programme of speedskating and ice hockey in the Games venues', the night saw a constant stream of people occupying all the main roads: Via Roma, with its shops and boutiques still shops, Via Po, the fundamental crossroads for those who tried to get to the Murazzi, the pulsating heart of Torino’s movida, Via Garibaldi, occupied by musical bands, and along the riverfront. But the celebration wasn’t just taking place along the most important of the city's roads: it was everywhere. In the discos, in the pubs, in the cafés - quick stops to drink coffee, and under Piazza Vittorio’s flowing porticos, where the Italian anthem was resounding. Along Via Po the children were enjoying themselves waving the Italian flag: here and there you could also hear songs from Dutch, Russian, Czech and German fans.
 
OLYMPIC F1 FERRARI

Scuderia Ferrari took centre stage during the Opening Ceremony of Torino 2006, held a week last Friday and watched by more than two billion people around the globe.

OLYMPIC WHITE NIGHT

As Fiat's home city of Turin continues to be at the focus of world attention, more than half a million people partied into the early hours of this morning packed into its historic piazzas and squares.

The Canadian visitors were singing their 'Go Canada Go Games anthem, and among the guests was a delegation from Sion, the Swiss city which was 'defeated' by Torino in the final ballot for the nomination of the XX Olympic Winter Games, which distinguished itself. The Swiss crossed the centre of town beating the rhythm of the celebrations with big cowbells.
 
For the occasion Palazzo Nuovo shed its usual academic clothes to become an impromptu enormous disco: five thousand young people danced and toasted to the rhythms of techno music. At the Sponsor Village in Piazza Solferino there were endless queues running deep into the night: here those who were lucky enough turned into improvised curling athletes, throwing a 'stone' on a purposely-built pitch. And at daybreak, bakeries started about their business somewhat taken aback by storm of demand for hot croissants or pieces of focaccia.
 
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14.02.2006

These are euphoric and exciting days for Fiat's home city of Turin, which has prepared for years to be ready for the XX Winter Olympic Games

© 2006 Interfuture Media/Italiaspeed