Olympic Winter Games Torino 2006

It was beautiful, a dream turned true. From the intuition of daring dreamers of latter years, to the years of complex preparation, until the testy race against time to show the world it could be done.

The XX edition of the Olympic Winter Games Torino 2006 will be remembered as a celebration of sport and brotherhood. Three weeks of sporting competition, success and fair play, enthusiasm and passion on the slopes and in the plants, in the squares of Torino and its valleys. Torino, Piemonte and Italy have won their Olympic challenge. “We’ve made it, all together with team spirit, from the government to local institutions, down to every volunteer, thank you, thank you”, were the first significant words of the closing speech by TOROC president, Valentino Castellani, at the Closing Ceremony. He added “The Games give us faith in the future”.

More than an adieu, the Closing Ceremony was a long embrace, a moment in which, all tension dissipated all were overcome by the magic of the Olympic Games. This was a long au revoir to Beijing 2008 and Vancouver 2010 with a jovial salute with athletes wearing red noses and masks (angels and devils) hiding their faces from the public. There was melancholy and national pride, the feelings of this splendid adventure. Then the show with the sea and mountains blending together setting of the burlesque carnival circus: the goliardic tarot masks taking the scene made of excesses, dances, jumps and pranks.