Turin 2006 News

TORONTO (CP) _ Olympic curling champion Brad Gushue arrived home Monday to a hero's welcome. ``It's been a long trip, we've been away from home for a month,'' the Newfoundland skip told reporters after flying from Turin to Toronto. ``It's nice to get back in Canada and hopefully start eating some good Canadian food.'' Gushue's next stop was St. John's, N.L. ``I think this (reception) is maybe one of 100 we're going to get (in St. John's),'' he ...

By Judy Monchuk CALGARY (CP) _ Olympic gold medallist Duff Gibson's plane was escorted back to the boarding gate by three crash rescue firetrucks flashing their lights on his welcome home Monday. ``All I could think was `Those are my guys,' '' said the 39-year-old skeleton champion, a Calgary firefighter whose station is based at the city's international airport. ``I was afraid that I was going to be a blubbering idiot, but so far I'm good.'' More than ...

By Jim Litke SESTRIERE, Italy (AP) _ Here's a toast to all those Olympians who didn't start celebrating until they won something. Hoist a cold one for Fabris and Klassen and Ahn and Raich, and maybe a few for those wacky Kostelic kids, the brother-sister act on skis from Croatia that won more medals than some nations. These were Games when speaking English meant missing some of the best parties, unless your name was Bode Miller, but ...

Dear Italian friends, Well done and thank you! Dear organizing committee friends and partners, you have succeeded brilliantly in meeting your challenge. These were truly magnificent games. We say a heartfelt thank you to Italy, Piedmont and Turin! Dear volunteers, you, like the athletes, have been the champions of these games. Your generosity and smiles have won us over. You have been marvelous. These Games have been held in the spirit of the Olympic Truce, with the peace and harmony ...

TURIN, Italy (AP) _ In a startling security breach, an intruder got on stage during Sunday's closing ceremony of the Turin Olympics. The man approached the microphone during a speech by organizing committee chief Valentino Castellani and shouted, ``Passion lives in Torino,'' the slogan of the games. The man, identified by police as Spanish, was then whisked away by security officers and taken into custody for questioning. Castellani didn't seem fazed by the incident and continued his speech ...

By Gregory Strong TURIN, Italy (CP) _ It's a virtual lock. Winnipeg long-track speedskater Cindy Klassen is expected to be named Canada's flagbearer for the closing ceremonies at the Turin Winter Olympics. The Canadian Olympic Committee will make the announcement Sunday at its wrapup news conference. While there are several excellent candidates, selecting Klassen seems to be a no-brainer. She has already won a record four medals and has a shot to add another. A wide grin spread ...

CESANA, Italy (AP) _ Anna Carin Olofsson of Sweden took advantage of a week-long rest and a mid-race cushion to win gold Saturday in the 12.5-kilometre mass start, biathlon's premier event. Olofsson, in her first Olympics as a biathlete after competing in cross-country skiing at Salt Lake City, finished 18.8 seconds ahead of Kati Wilhelm and 41.9 in front of Uschi Disl, both of Germany. There were no Canadians in the event. Olofsson added to her silver ...

VIENNA, Austria (AP) _ A lawyer for Austrian ski coach Walter Mayer has said he may sue IOC president Jacques Rogge over a doping-related comment, Austrian media reported Saturday. Herwig Hasslacher said he would sue Rogge on Mayer's behalf if he did not retract a comment he made publicly last week in which he said Mayer ``organized'' doping, the Austrian broadcaster ORF reported on its website. Hasslacher was not immediately available for comment Saturday. Hasslacher said Rogge's comments ...

By Jim Armstrong PRAGELATO, Italy (AP) _ This was Julija Tchepalova's race to win. The women above and below her in the World Cup standings were out: Leader Marit Bjorgen of Norway skipped the event because of illness, while Beckie Scott of Vermilion, Alta., chose to turn her attention to the overall World Cup title in her final season on the circuit. Tchepalova finished second in Friday's 30km skate, the final women's cross-country race of the Turin Games. Katerina ...

TURIN, Italy (AP) _ Speedskater Joey Cheek was elected by the U.S. team to carry the American flag during the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics on Sunday night. Cheek has won two medals at the Turin Games _ gold in the 500 metres and silver in the 1,000. ``I feel like I'm not really worthy,'' he said. ``It's a wonderful honour and I'm thrilled that it happened.'' Canadian singer Avril Lavigne will perform in an eight-minute production ...