An ideal handing-over of roles between Cortina – the town that hosted the first Winter Olympics ever held in Italy in 1956 - and Turin, home of the Winter Olympics 2006.
The Fiftieth Anniversary of Cortina d'Ampezzo
In 2006 Cortina d'Ampezzo celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Olympic Games, which opened on January 26th 1956.
AFTER 50 YEARS THE OLYMPIC FLAME RETURNS TO CORTINA After leaving Rome on December 9th, the flame is crossing all the regions of Italy. Key figures in the event are the torch bearers, the ambassadors of Olympic values. The journey is divided into segments, over which the various torch bearers alternate and pass on the flame.
On January 26th it was Cortina’s turn. After having visited the sites of the Olympic Games of '56, the Olympic torch of Turin 2006 arrived in the late afternoon in the Stadio del Ghiaccio where an official ceremony have been held in the presence of representatives and champions past and present. A reproduction of the old tripod, in the same position as that of 1956, have then been lited. In the evening, firework display and a show on ice took place.
GREAT EVENTS From January 23rd-29th Cortina was full of memories, with a packed program of events inspired by the '50s. Along Corso Italia four giant screens projected non-stop images and documentary films on the 1956 Olympics.
"Car Beauty Contest": 15 of the most beautiful vintage cars from the '50s will parade through Cortina. Cortina Olympic Award: important awards was given to legendary winter sports figures at the exclusive Olympic week inaugural gala dinner, with the participation of famous people, athletes and personalities from the cinema and entertainment world.
OLYMPIC CLASSIC Also on January 26th, the Permanent Committee of the Cortina World Cup organized a Giant Slalom competition for Olympic Ski champions, on the Pista Pale of Rumerlo where the Olympic Flame passed also. CORTINA OLYMPICS REVIVAL
Skiing in Cortina from the 27th January to the 3rd March 2006, to get to know the olympic athmosphere of those slopes that hosted the Olympic Races in 1956... on the traces of the great champions of the past. More about >>>
