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Family Map Quest: Break out the map!
Every time a country is named during Opening Ceremonies
and general competition, challenge your kids to find it
on a world map or globe. Start them off by pointing out
Turin (Torino), Italy.
Olympic Games Around Town: Atlanta may not be known
for its winter sports, but it does have a few places
where you and the kids can chill out. Check out an
Atlanta Thrashers
or Gwinnett Gladiators hockey game, or visit one of the
local ice rinks for open skating or lessons.
Atlanta Thrashers, www.atlantathrashers.com:
Games held at Philips Arena. Tickets available at
1-866-715-1500 or www.ticketmaster.com.
Gwinnett Gladiators, www.gwinnettgladiators.com:
Games held at The Arena at Gwinnett Center. Tickets
available at the arena box office or
at 404-249-6400, www.ticketmaster.com.
Ice Forum, www.iceforum.com: Ice skating rinks in
Duluth and Kennesaw offer public skating sessions and
lessons. 2300 Satellite Blvd., Duluth, 770-813-1010;
3061 George Busbee Parkway, Kennesaw,
770-218-1010.
The Cooler, Alpharetta Family Skate Center,
www.thecooler.com. Ice and roller skating rinks offer
public skating sessions and lessons. 10800 Davis Dr.,
Alpharetta, 770-649-6600.
Pin trading: When the Olympics were held in Atlanta
in 1996,
visitors and locals got to know each other by comparing
and trading
commemorative pins. But you don’t need to fly to Italy
to trade pins at the 2006 Winter Olympics – all you need
is an Internet connection. Lots of websites feature pins
to buy and trade. Just go to a search engine and type in
“Olympic pins,” “Olympic pins 2006” or “trade Olympic
pins.” You’ll find all sorts of opportunities to trade
or buy, starting at about $1 per pin.
Family Skiing: So, Atlanta isn’t known for its ski
resorts. That doesn’t mean you can’t
introduce your kids to this exciting sport with a
weekend getaway. North Carolina is home to several ski
spots – including Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley
and Wolf Laurel Ski Resort in Mars Hill – and there’s
even Cloudmont in Mentone, Alabama and Ober Gatlinburg
in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. To learn about area ski
resorts – and to make sure there’s snow – go to
www.skisoutheast.com.
Make your own snow: Super Snow by DuneCraft can turn
even
a mild Georgia day into a snow day. Stir 1 tablespoon of
this nontoxic
polymer into 32 ounces of water, and you’ll have a
bucketful of shiny,
sparkly white stuff – and it doesn’t melt! It’s slippery
and messy like the real stuff, however, so outside play
is recommended. www.dunecraft.com
Viewing Guide to the 2006 Winter Olympics
Note: The following listings, which are subject to
change, offer daily highlights of 2006 Torino Olympic
programming on NBC, MSNBC, CNBC and USA with HD coverage
on NBC’s HD Affiliates and Universal HD. Event times and
athletes are subject to change. For the latest Olympic
TV schedule information, visit www.nbcolympics.com.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10
NBC * Starting at 8 p.m.
Opening Ceremony
The Parade of Nations
The Lighting of the Olympic Cauldron
The Torino Opening Ceremony promises a dramatic
entrance of some 2,500 athletes from 80 countries during
the Parade of Nations as they gather in the Olympic
Stadium in Torino to experience a high-tech, high-energy
spectacle with a uniquely Italian flare.
Four years ago, at the Opening Ceremony in Salt Lake
City, the members of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” hockey
team reunited to light the Olympic Cauldron, adding to
the long tradition of memorable Olympic flame lightings.
The question still remains: Who will add to the legacy
and ignite the cauldron in Torino?
PROFILE: Chad Hedrick
Although Chad Hedrick has only been competing on
the U.S. National Speed Skating Team since 2002, he
is expected to go for the gold in Torino. Chad won
50 in-line skating world championships before
switching to the ice and shocked the speed skating
world by winning the 2004 World Championships with a
world record time. His parents own and operate a
roller skating facility outside Houston, Texas, so
Chad started skating early. He put on his first pair
of skates at the age of 3 and won his first roller
skating trophy at the age of 5. Today, Chad competes
without socks to better feel his skates, which are
custom made because of the flat shape of his feet. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11
USA * Starting at noon
Women’s Hockey, USA vs. Switzerland
Olympic veterans Angela Ruggiero (Harper Woods,
Michigan) and Krissy Wendell (Brooklyn Park, Minnesota)
lead Team USA in an attempt to reclaim gold after
falling to archrival Canada four years ago.
NBC * Starting at 8 p.m.
Speed Skating, Men’s 5000m Gold Medal Final
Chad Hedrick (Houston, Texas), the two-time reigning
world champion in the men’s 5000m, makes his Olympic
debut today. Hedrick, a former in-line skater, switched
to speed skating just four years ago.
 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12
NBC * Starting at 7 p.m.
Alpine Skiing – Men’s Downhill Gold Medal Final
Snowboarding – Men’s Halfpipe Gold Medal Final
Reigning world champion Bode Miller (Bretton Woods,
New Hampshire) makes his Torino debut in the men’s
downhill, the most thrilling event in alpine skiing.
Miller and Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, California), who
won gold and silver, respectively, at the 2005 World
Championships in Bormio, Italy, will race two miles in
two minutes in pursuit of Olympic gold, giving the U.S.
its most potent one-two punch ever in this event.
Four years ago, American snowboarders swept the men’s
halfpipe medals and Team USA once again fields a strong
group, which could include defending gold medalist Ross
Powers (South Londonderry, Vermont), Salt Lake silver
medalist Danny Kass (Greenwich, Connecticut) and
crossover skateboarding star Shaun White (Carlsbad,
California).
PROFILE: Evan Lysacek
“My older sister and I got skates for Christmas
when I was 9. I really wanted to play hockey, but the rink recommended that we both go
into skate school. At first, I did not want to participate, but at the same time, I wanted
to compete against my sister, so I eventually started to skate.”
Training Schedule: Between 45-50 hours a week, combined on and off the ice.
Favorite TV show: “Seinfeld”
Favorite Ice Cream: Haagen Daaz Butter Pecan
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14
NBC * Starting at 8 p.m.
Figure Skating – Men’s Short Program
Tuesday’s figure skating features the short program of
the men’s competition. Watch for Russia’s flashy Yevgeny
Plushenko, silver medalist in Salt Lake City and the
gold medal favorite in Torino. The American men figure
to be in the medal chase, with newcomers Johnny Weir
(Newark, Delaware) and Evan Lysacek (Naperville,
Illinois), along with 2002 bronze medalist Tim Goebel
(Rolling Meadows, Illinois).
 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY
15
NBC * Starting at 8 p.m.
Alpine Skiing – Women’s Downhill Gold Medal Final
The rising talents of the American women’s team,
21-year-olds Lindsey Kildow (St. Paul, Minnesota) and
Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, California) are
motivating each other in a race to the top of women’s
alpine skiing, where they look to challenge the sport’s
reigning superstar, Croatia’s brilliant Janica Kostelic,
for gold in the women’s downhill.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17
NBC * Starting at 8 p.m.
Snowboarding – Women’s Snowboard Cross Gold Medal Final
World champion Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain,
Vermont), introduced to America as the featured star of
VISA’s Torino Winter Games ad campaign, looks to make
history tonight by winning the first ever gold medal in
women’s snowboard cross – in a head-to-head four-woman
race down a course filled with bumps and jumps. This
fresh-faced daredevil and fierce competitor is aiming
for a halfpipe-snowboard cross double dip in Torino.
PROFILE:
Shani Davis
Shani Davis was born and raised in Chicago and he is
a student at Northern Michigan University, where he has
been studying elementary education for three years. He
enjoys building aquariums and caring for fish. He once
actually owned a piranha; now he has two Siamese
fighting fish that his mother cares for while he’s
traveling. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY
18
NBC * Starting at 8 p.m.
Alpine Skiing – Men’s Super-G Gold Medal Final
Speed Skating – Men’s 1000m Gold Medal Final
You don’t want to miss the men’s Super-G gold medal
final. Americans Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves have each
won world titles in this event and will attempt to
outrace Austrian superstars Hermann Maier and Benni
Raich.
South Side Chicago native Shani Davis, the first black
speed skater to compete for the USA at any Olympics, is
attempting to make more history as the first skater to
compete in long track and short track at the same Games.
Davis is the world record holder and a gold medal
contender in the 1000m. Also watch for 2002 bronze
medalist Joey Cheek (Greensboro, North Carolina) and
strong contingents from the Netherlands, Norway and host
country Italy.
 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19
NBC * Starting at 7 p.m.
Figure Skating – Ice Dancing Competition
Alpine Skiing – Women’s Super-G Gold Medal Final
© TOROC
THE MASCOTS:
Neve and Gliz are the two official mascots of
the 2006 Torino Olympics. They are the ambassadors of Olympic values:
participation, respect, friendship and loyalty. Neve is a delightful and charming ball of snow,
and Gliz is a happy and lively cube of ice. They represent the two natural elements – snow and
ice – without which there would be no Winter Olympics! The figure skating competition continues with the
elegance and artistry of ice dancing, the event that was
immortalized with Torvill and Dean’s “Bolero.” Tonight,
ice dancers skate closer to gold, performing original
dances of their own creation to the rhythm of a “Latin
Combination.”
It’s the women’s turn to clash in the speedy Super-G,
featuring European multi-medal threats Janica Kostelic
(Croatia) and Anja Paerson (Sweden), and fast-improving
Americans Lindsey Kildow and Julia Mancuso.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20
NBC * Starting at 8 p.m.
Freestyle Skiing – Men’s Aerials Competition
In the high-flying, soar-or-crash, acrobatic aerial
show of men’s aerials, World Cup champion Jeret “Speedy”
Peterson (Boise, Idaho) – whose nickname comes from the
always-in-motion cartoon character Speed Racer – and his
American teammates Joe Pack (the 2002 silver medalist
from Park City, Utah) and Ryan St. Onge (Steamboat
Springs, Colorado) give Team USA a chance for gold in
this highly competitive event.
 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY
21
USA * 2-5 p.m.
Hockey – Men: USA vs. Russia
This live hockey lineup features a “Miracle on Ice”
rematch between Team USA and Russia.
ALPINE SKIING:
“Two Miles in Two Minutes”
The men’s downhill course is 3,299 meters (2.05
miles), and finish times for the course are typically
around 1:52. The average speed on the men’s downhill
course is 66 mph, and the maximum speed is approximately
80 mph. The Olympic course in Sestriere has a 914-meter
(3,000 feet) vertical drop — about three times the
height of the Eiffel Tower and more than twice the
height of the Empire State Building.
NBC * Starting at 8:00 p.m.
Bobsled – Women’s Gold Medal Final
When women’s bobsled made its Olympic debut in Salt
Lake City, Vonetta Flowers (Helena, Alabama) pushed her
sled to victory and made history as the first black
athlete to win Winter Games gold.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24
NBC * Starting 8 p.m.
Figure Skating – Champions Gala
Alpine Skiing – Women’s Giant Slalom Gold Medal Final
Watch all of your favorite Torino skaters showcase
their skills in a spectacular encore performance,
featuring the sport’s biggest names and newly crowned
champions.
Once again, Croatian sensation Janica Kostelic and
Swedish star Anja Paerson are the favorites in a race
that could determine who is the Queen of the Mountains
at the Torino Games. Also watch for 21-year-old
Americans Lindsey Kildow and Julia Mancuso (the 2005
world championship’s bronze medalist), the present and
future of the U.S. alpine team.
PROFILE: Bode Miller
On the slopes, Bode Miller is a fearless speed demon,
but off the slopes he is an easy-going New Hampshire
native who was home-schooled until fourth grade and grew
up on 500 acres of forest without electricity or running
water. Since stepping into his first pair of skis at age
3, Bode has developed into the most successful U.S.
alpine skier in two decades. After winning two silver
medals at the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Games, he became the
Overall World Cup Champion in 2005. During the World Cup
season Bode lives in an RV, driving from venue-to-venue
and cooking his favorite pasta meals. He is credited
with helping to revolutionize the sport of skiing by
being among the first to compete on hourglass shaped
skis, called parabolic skis. This ski style has now
become the standard in ski equipment.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY
25
NBC * Starting at 8 p.m.
Alpine Skiing – Men’s Slalom Gold Medal Final
Short Track Speed Skating – Men’s 5000m Relay Gold Medal
Final & Men’s 500m Gold Medal Final
The Alpine competition concludes with a final
confrontation in the slalom between the tireless Bode
Miller and his primary challenger for the title of
world’s best skier, Austria’s Benni Raich.
It’s a double dose of Apolo Anton Ohno, who will attempt
to sprint for gold in the 500m and lead Team USA to
victory in the wildest event of the short track
competition: the men’s relay.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26
NBC * Starting at 7 p.m.
Closing Ceremony
During the Closing Ceremony, the Torino Games will
conclude with an Italian-style celebration featuring
musical performances and the athletes of 2006 Winter
Games.
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