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Turin Games organizers approve budget
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-01-19 07:06
Such praise would be welcome relief for TOROC, which has also managed to
secure a final approved budget for the Games after months of delays.
"Starting from this evening we can concentrate heart and soul on preparing
for this great event," TOROC president Valentino Castellani said after the
budget was passed on Monday.
Costs are expected to be 1.223 million euros, while income is set at 1.182
million. The City of Turin has pledged to cover the deficit of 41 million euros,
TOROC said.
There will also be five issues of a scratch card lottery expected to raise 20
million euros.
"Once again local authorities have demonstrated their great commitment," said
Castellani, a former mayor of Turin.
"My special thanks go to the City of Turin and the Piedmont Region for the
financial guarantees they have underwritten."
In a further financial boost, TOROC chief executive officer Cesare Vaciago
said tickets worth 52 million euros, representing 81 percent of the estimated
revenues from ticket sales in the budget, had already been sold.
"In the approved budget we estimated banking 64 million euros in ticket
sales," he said.
"A prudent estimate which we are sure we shall exceed."
On event that is sure to be a sell-out is the men's slalom, given the current
unbeatable form of home star Giorgio Rocca.
Rocca has won the first five World Cup slaloms of the season, equalling the
record jointly held by Swedish legend Ingemar Stenmark and Liechtenstein's Marco
Girardelli.
With two more World Cup slaloms prior to the Olympics, at Kitzbuhel on
January 22 and Schladming on January 24, the Italian public will be hoping Rocca
stays fit and emulates compatriot Alberto Tomba, who won Olympic titles in giant
slalom and slalom in Calgary in 1988 and took gold again in the giant slalom at
Val d'Isere four years later.
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