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2006 Olympic Winter Games to Open in Turin, Italy
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=10E97BF:3919ACA Some 2600
athletes from more than 80 countries will be competing during 17-day
event, which is being held under unprecedented security





Ice dancers prepare for Turin 2006 Winter Olympic GamesThe 2006
Olympic Winter Games are set to open Friday in Turin, Italy.

The Olympic Torch entered the northern Italian city Thursday ending a
64-day journey that covered 11,300 kilometers. It will be used to
light the Olympic cauldron in the lavish opening ceremonies, but the
identity of the person who will have the honor remains a tightly
guarded secret.

Some 2600 athletes from more than 80 countries will be competing in 15
sports for 84 medals over the 17-day event, which is being held under
unprecedented security including NATO fighter jets backing up 15,000
Italian police.

In 2002, Germany won the most medals at the Salt Lake City Winter
Games with 36, followed by the United States (34) and Norway (25),
which won the most gold medals, with 13. Some information for this
report was provided by Reuters.


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