A Tribute in Honor of

A Tribute in Honor of:

The Winter Olympics Day 5

Olympics Help NBC Ratings

By DAVID BAUDER
.c The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - NBC's Winter Olympic dreams are coming true, judging by the first three nights of television ratings.

The 2002 Salt Lake City Games averaged 35.1 million viewers through Sunday, led by the 45.6 million people who watched Friday's opening ceremonies, according to Nielsen Media Research.

That's 23 percent more than were watching the first three nights of the Nagano Olympics four years ago. Generally, Olympic games that take place in the United States are rated higher than those overseas.

More importantly for NBC, the 20.3 average rating is above the projected rating the network guaranteed to its advertisers, generally reported to be a little more than 17. If the ratings hold up throughout the games, it means NBC won't be forced to compensate advertisers with free commercial time.

Television viewing as a whole was up 9 percent on Friday, Saturday and Sunday over those three days typically this season, Nielsen said. The Olympics are bringing in many viewers who wouldn't be watching television otherwise.

Although NBC is crushing its competition, ABC and Fox were at least moderately successful Sunday night in trying to appeal to younger viewers not interested in the Olympics

Widening the smiles at NBC was the news that its top-rated show, ``Friends,'' had been renewed for another season. ``Friends'' had 28.6 million viewers last Thursday, 4 million more than its average for the season.

For the week, NBC averaged 24 million viewers in prime-time (14.4 rating, 23 share), CBS averaged 11.8 million (8.1, 13), ABC averaged 8.7 million (5.7, 9), Fox had 8.4 million (5.2, 8), UPN had 4.5 million (2.8, 4), the WB had 4.1 million (2.6, 4) and Pax TV had 1.2 million (0.9, 1).

NBC's ``Nightly News'' narrowly won the evening news competition with 11.2 million viewers (8.0 rating, 15 share). ABC's ``World News Tonight'' had 11.1 million viewers (7.9, 15) and the ``CBS Evening News'' had 9.6 million (6.9, 13).

A ratings point represents 1,055,000 households, or 1 percent of the nation's estimated 105.5 million TV homes. The share is the percentage of in-use televisions tuned to a given show.

For the week of Feb. 4-10, the top 10 shows, their networks and ratings were ``Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony,'' NBC, 25.5; ``Friends,'' NBC, 17.8; ``ER,'' NBC, 17.6; ``Winter Olympics (Sunday),'' NBC, 17.6; ``Friends'' special, NBC, 17.2; ``Winter Olympics (Saturday),'' NBC, 17.1; ``CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,'' CBS, 15.8; ``Will & Grace,'' NBC, 15.5; ``Everybody Loves Raymond,'' CBS, 13.5; ``Law and Order,'' NBC, 12.6.

On the Net:

http://www.nielsenmedia.com

AP-NY-02-12-02 1336EST

Olympics-Winter Games trivia

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Five things you may not know about the Winter Olympics. 1. Athletes from countries including Venezuela, India and Brazil belong to a Solidarity Group of the International Luge Federation to encourage development of the sport in their countries. - - - - 2. The mayor of Oslo gave the Olympic flag hoisted at every Winter Games to the IOC at the closing ceremony in 1952. - - - - 3. Salt Lake City is staging 78 medal events - a record. - - - - 4. The first Winter Games to be held outside Europe and the United States were in Sapporo in Japan in 1972. - - - - 5. Sex tests for women were introduced at the Grenoble Games in 1968.

07:30 02-12-02

LINKS:

Olympics-FitzRandolph pays homage to Heiden

By John Mehaffey

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Twenty-two years ago an awestruck five-year-old American boy watched on television as Eric Heiden won each of the five speedskating titles on offer at the Lake Placid Olympics.

Casey FitzRandolph told his parents that speed-skating had replaced ice hockey in his affections and switched immediately from the rink to the ice track.

On Tuesday he was rewarded for years of devotion to the equivalent of the 100 metres dash or the Alpine ski downhill with the first U.S. 500 metres speedskating gold medal since Heiden's in 1980.

"I couldn't have written a better script," he told a packed news conference, still shaking his head in disbelief. "In 1980 when I started skating Eric Heiden won his five gold medals. It's a dream come true, a gold medal come true."

The 500 metres is the only speedskating event of the Winter Games spread over two days, with the gold going to the athlete with the fastest combined time from two races.

It represents a special mental torture for the competitors, in this case particularly so for FitzRandolph who was fastest on Monday but finished the day with his emotions in turmoil after his Canadian training partner Jeremy Wotherspoon fell and failed to complete the opening race.

SIXTH U.S GOLD

"It was difficult last night and it was difficult when I went to bed and difficult when I woke up," FitzRandolph said. "It wasn't the best race but it was good enough to win, I feel I had some help from upstairs."

FitzRandolph is the sixth American to win the 500 metres, a race which has a special place in U.S. affections.

The event was the first scheduled at the first Winter Olympics staged in 1924 in the French alpine village of Chamonix. Charles Jewtraw, whose father was the caretaker at the Lake Placid ice rink, won the gold medal.

At the 1932 Games in Lake Placid another local boy, 21-year-old John Shea, recited the Olympic oath on behalf of the athletes and went on to win the 500 metres final.

O'Shea, who had been hoping to watch his grandson compete in these Games, died in a car crash last month at the age of 91. His son James had also been an Olympian.

Kenneth Henry won for the United States at the 1952 Oslo Games, Terry McDermott was a surprise victor at the 1964 Innsbruck Games and then came the incomparable Heiden.

Heiden, who finished the 1980 Games as the best sprint and best distance speedskater in the world, retired immediately, unhappy with the spotlight and turned first to cycling then to a career as an orthopedic surgeon.

"It's an honour to be the best since Eric," said FitzRandolph, who also paid tribute to compatriot Dan Jansen who fell in 1988 and finished out of the medals four years later.

"It's such a cool sport, it's such a neat combination of art and grace but at the same time there's a lot of power.

19:26 02-12-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Third time lucky for Austria's Goetschl

By Julia Ferguson

SNOWBASIN, Utah, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Austria's Renate Goetschl put her Olympic jinx to rest on Tuesday, taking a bronze in the downhill for her first medal at her third Winter Games.

But at first it seemed as if her dream of capturing the only Alpine skiing trophy missing from her glittering career would turn into a nightmare.

The pre-race favourite by dint of winning the last two downhills before the Games, lingered alone in the finish area, head bowed low after witnessing her third-place finish light up on the scoreboard behind winner Carole Montillet of France.

"I was disappointed at first when I skied into the finish area and saw my time and that there were another 10 favourites to follow," the 26-year-old said.

But the Austrian's time held. Not even downhill world champion Michaela Dorfmeister, starting 10 places after her team mate, could squeeze on to the podium.

"Something would be wrong if I weren't satisfied with bronze. After all, I've now competed in three Olympic Games and had previously been without a medal. This time it worked out."

"I can also count myself lucky because I'm just one tenth ahead of (Germany's Hilde) Gerg, so I'm very content with my third place."

Double world champion Goetschl, one of the few women racers who competes in all five disciplines, exploded on to the circuit at the age of 17 when she rewrote Alpine skiing history by becoming the first woman to win a slalom from the highest start number ever of 42.

The Austrian with a fondness for motorcycles has been the most consistent racer over the past four winters and has captured four World Cup crowns, including the overall title in 2000. Her current tally stands at 23 World Cup wins.

But her Olympian exploits had hitherto been blighted. Debuting at Lillehammer in 1994, she crashed out in the downhill and again in Nagano, as well as in the combined.

The Austrian's quest for that elusive Olympic gold is not over yet. She is the overriding favourite for the combined, which adds timings from a downhill to a slalom, after winning the World Cup tour's two events this winter.

While the super-G is also for the taking, she is not letting herself be put under any undue pressure.

"I'm happy that this (downhill) race is over and that I have a medal. Now the pressure is gone and I can just concentrate on doing my best."

20:05 02-12-02

Olympics-'Mother' Montillet wins downhill gold

By Robert Woodward

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Carole Montillet, the "mother" of France's ski team since the death of Regine Cavagnoud in October, paid the perfect tribute to her friend by winning the downhill at the Winter Olympics on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old had won only one super-G in a decade on the circuit but she threw caution to the winds and "raced for Regine" down the Wildflower piste.

On the fourth day of the 17-day Games, the first major controversy of the Games forced the governing body of figure skating to launch an inquiry into a controversial Russian victory in the pairs.

Judges gave Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze the gold but spectators in the Olympic Ice Centre on Monday - and practically every commentator - believed the Canadian pair of Jamie Sale and David Pelletier had done enough to win.

Estonia won their first medals in the Winter Olympics in the 15-km classical cross-country race and Finn Janne Lahtela stopped an American takeover of the younger Olympic disciplines by winning the men's freestyle moguls.

But the host country won gold in the men's 500 metres speed skating when Casey FitzRandolph benefited from the absence of his Canadian friend Jeremy Wotherspoon, who slipped after just a few strides of Monday's opening run, to win.

SHOCK VICTORY

Montillet's shock victory - the first by a Frenchwoman in the Olympic downhill - provided one of the most heart-warming stories of the Games.

Starting early, she was just too fast for the Austrian favourites that followed her. Italy's Isolde Kostner, a bronze medallist in 1994, picked up the silver with Austria's Renate Goetschl forced to settle for bronze.

Cavagnoud, the super-G world champion, was killed in a training accident and Montillet had played "maman" (mummy) to her younger team mates in their grief.

"Nobody expected it (victory), not even myself," she said. "I skied with my heart.

"I was thinking about her a lot. I am sure that from where she is she will feel proud of me."

"This is great for the girls after all they've been through, especially for Carole, who was magnificent," French ski team director Gerard Rougier said.

American Picabo Street, the former world champion making her last Olympic appearance, finished 16th before an excited home crowd and then announced her retirement.

"I am officially done with all ski racing, competitions, everything," the American told a news conference.

SKATING CONTROVERSY

Figure skating has provided controversy at many Winter Games and once again the judges were in the dock after Monday's pairs competition when the Canadian pair seemed clearly to outperform their Russian rivals.

After watching Sale, his sweetheart on and off the ice, break down in tears at the medals ceremony, Pelletier said he was so disillusioned with the sport he might retire and the top Canadian official at the Games insisted the judges were wrong.

Faced with a barrage of criticism - many Canadian newspapers claimed their skaters had been robbed - the International Skating Union ordered an inquiry.

"Following the reaction of the public and the media to the results of the pairs event at the Salt Lake Ice Center last night, and to respect public opinion, the ISU is doing an internal assessment to monitor if the ISU rules and procedures have been respected," it said in a statement.

In the men's moguls, Lahtela, the silver medallist at the 1998 Nagano Games, produced two quadruple jumps and the fastest time to beat teenager Travis Mayer of the United States into second place.

The U.S. swept the three medals at the men's halfpipe on Monday. They also won gold in the women's halfpipe and silver in the women's moguls.

Estonian teams took part in three Winter Olympics before their country was annexed into the Soviet Union in 1940 and they have been at three Games since independence in 1991 -- all without a single medal success until today.

"It makes me very proud," said winner Andru Veerpalu, who won Estonia's first world championship gold in the 30 km classical last year in Lahti.

"This is a great, great success for Estonia." Compatriot Jaak Mae took the bronze.

19:13 02-12-02

Olympics-Speedskating-FitzRandolph wins without a smile

By Lynda Dugdale

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - American speedskater Casey FitzRandolph benefited from friend Jeremy Wotherspoon's misfortune as he powered to victory in the men's 500 metres at the Salt Lake City Games on Tuesday.

There was no world record this time -- the first two speedskating events of the Games both produced new best times -- as FitzRandolph came home in 34.81 seconds for a two-run time of 69.23, just ahead of 1998 champion Hiroyasu Shimizu of Japan (69.26) and American Kip Carpenter (69.47).

There were also few smiles.

A distraught FitzRandolph saw his Canadian friend and training partner Wotherspoon, the pre-race favourite and 1,000 metres world record holder, crash out just a few strides into his opening run on Monday.

"This victory is absolutely tinged with sadness, he's one of my best friends," FitzRandolph said.

The 27-year-old FitzRandolph, who skated a personal best and Olympic record to lead the event after the first run, shared his muted celebrations with Carpenter, who raced with him in the final pair.

Mirroring their race, the pair skated a lap of victory to the roar of the partisan crowd and rock band Queen's "We are the Champions," each clutching an American flag.

But the normally effusive FitzRandolph contained his joy despite becoming the sixth American to win the title.

His idol, Eric Heiden, was the last to win the crown.

Wotherspoon came out firing in the first race on Tuesday, clocking a best-of-the-day 34.63 but no amount of speed could win him the gold after falling in the first run.

"I thought today I went well except for that last bend," said Wotherspoon, referring to lowering his hand to stabilise himself.

Of Wotherspoon's chances had he not fallen, FitzRandolph said: "I knew he was the man I needed to skate faster than to win gold."

Wotherspoon predicted his friend's victory, which crowned a magnificent season for FitzRandolph, who had skated a personal best ahead of the Olympics.

The American, who trains in Calgary with Wotherspoon and Mike Ireland, who finished seventh, is ranked second in the World Cup standings and was the silver medallist at the World sprint championships in Norway last month.

He came a disappointing sixth in this event in Nagano, after struggling to adapt to clap skates introduced a year earlier.

FitzRandolph said the past 24 hours had been a struggle.

"Yesterday (Monday) was one of the hardest days I have ever had because I was so up and down," he said. "My nerves were acting up going in to the race."

He did not skate his best race on Tuesday. Nevertheless, he said, he had fulfilled a dream and was waiting for it all to sink in.

He said he would skate out the season before deciding whether he would retire.

"I always said I have to enjoy myself to keep doing it," he said. "This is your life, it's not a nine-to-five thing."

Shimizu, recovering from a hip injury, could not hide his disappointment during a presentation made to the athletes after the race.

"If I was able to perform in a more satisfactory physical condition I might be able to smile from the bottom of my heart," he said after the race.

His injury, sustained in October, has subdued his World Cup performances this season and he admitted last week he was worried about his form.

Carpenter, in contrast, showed amazing form to steal bronze from several more highly favoured athletes.

Ranked 27th in the World cup last season, the 22-year-old on Monday shaved three-tenths of a second off his personal best which he set earlier in the season.

"I was not surprised. I have been waiting for this my entire life," he said. "It is the best experience of my life."

Unlike the previous day, there were no falls during Tuesday's racing.

19:11 02-12-02

Olympics-Passenger Bizzaro mistook sky marshals for hijackers

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - An airline passenger named Richard Bizzaro, whose behavior in the last minutes of 1ke City prompted action from U.S. sky marshals, said on Tuesday he thought they were hijackers.

In a statement released by his lawyer, Bizzaro apologized to the crew and sky marshals on Saturday's Delta Air Lines Flight 1540 from Los Angeles, saying he was unaware of a rule barring passengers from leaving their seats during the last 30 minutes of flights into Salt Lake City during the Winter Olympics.

He said he missed the announcement of this rule, and went to a lavatory between the first class section and the cockpit, emerging to find a flight attendant telling him forcefully to take his seat in the first class cabin.

In a federal complaint against Bizzaro filed Sunday, U.S. officials said Bizzaro tried to stare down the flight attendant, and one of two sky marshals sitting in the first-class section saw Bizzaro give a "thumbs-up" communication to another passenger.

After that, sky marshals took control of the flight, showed their badges and told passengers to remain seated, facing forward with their hands on their heads. All complied, including Bizzaro, but Bizzaro ??? in street clothes and one of them wore a ball cap backwards ... I believed I was witnessing a hijacking of our airplane."

Bizzaro, 59, of Park City, Utah, was arrested after the flight, appeared before a U.S magistrate Sunday morning and released on his own recognizance.

The complaint alleged he intimidated the flight attendant and interfered with her ability to follow security directives. No indictment has been returned against Bizzaro, but as charged in the complaint, the maximum penalty if convicted could be 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine.

18:39 02-12-02

Olympics-Cross country-Veerpalu proud of belated birthday gift

By Gennady Fyodorov

SOLDIER HOLLOW, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Estonian cross-country skier Andrus Veerpalu celebrated his 31st birthday on the day the Salt Lake City Olympics opened, but had to wait until Tuesday to receive a special present for him and his country.

Four days after the opening ceremony, Veerpalu won his country's first Winter Olympic gold medal when he powered to victory in the 15 km classical skiing.

"It makes me very proud," said Veerpalu, who also won Estonia's first world championship gold in the 30 km classical last year in Lahti. "This is a great, great success for Estonia.

"After winning the world championships, I set a goal for myself to win the Olympic gold, so this is really a dream come true for me," he added.

Estonian teams took part in three Winter Olympics before their country was annexed into the Soviet Union in 1940 and they have been at three Games since independence in 1991 -- all without a single medal success.

Estonian speed skater Ants Antson won the 1,500m title at the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics, competing for the Soviet Union.

Veerpalu, who beat Norway's silver medalist Frode Estil by 36 seconds, received a congratulatory phone call from the Estonian Prime Minister in the finish area.

"He told me that they were cheering in front of the television for me and my team mates," the skier said.

Overall, it was a great day for Estonia as Veerpalu's team mate, Jaak Mae, took the bronze just behind Estil.

FIRST PODIUM

"This is my first podium finish and I'm very happy," said Mae, a former truck driver, who had never finished better than fifth in any Olympic or world championship races.

Estil finished second by two hundredths of a second behind Veerpalu in the world championship 30 km race last year. He was as gracious in defeat on Tuesday as he was in Lahti.

"I started very slow and I didn't use all my power, but I was told that I still was in the top two at the 2-km mark," said the Norwegian.

"I though I have a good chance (for gold), but Andrus was just too strong today, so I have to be satisfied with a silver."

Estil also said that Veerpalu's victory was good for international skiing.

"Norway has won a lot of Olympic and world championship medals, so I think it's great for international skiing that some new countries are also winning gold medals," he said.

"We had Spain winning their first gold on Saturday and today it was Estonia's moment of glory.

The Estonians said they were not going to rest on their laurels after the double success.

"Of course, we're going to celebrate tonight, maybe not as much as we would have liked because we still have some more races to go," Veerpalu said. "But believe me, they are going to celebrate big tonight in Tallinn and the rest of Estonia.

"We have a chance for more medals. It's great to give yourself a nice birthday present with the gold medal."

If Veerpalu's present was late, Mae's has come early -- his 30th birthday is the day after the Olympic closing ceremony.

18:36 02-12-02

Olympics-Speedskating-FitzRandolph wins without a smile

By Lynda Dugdale

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - American speedskater Casey FitzRandolph benefited from friend Jeremy Wotherspoon's misfortune as he powered to victory in the men's 500 metres at the Salt Lake City Games on Tuesday.

There was no world record this time -- the first two speedskating events of the Games both produced new best times -- as FitzRandolph came home in 34.81 seconds for a two-run time of 69.23, just ahead of 1998 champion Hiroyasu Shimizu of Japan (69.26) and American Kip Carpenter (69.47).

There were also few smiles.

A distraught FitzRandolph saw his Canadian friend and training partner Wotherspoon, the pre-race favourite and 1,000 metres world record holder, crash out just a few strides into his opening run on Monday.

"This victory is absolutely tinged with sadness, he's one of my best friends," FitzRandolph said.

The 27-year-old FitzRandolph, who skated a personal best and Olympic record to lead the event after the first run, shared his muted celebrations with Carpenter, who raced with him in the final pair.

Mirroring their race, the pair skated a lap of victory to the roar of the partisan crowd and rock band Queen's "We are the Champions," each clutching an American flag.

But the normally effusive FitzRandolph contained his joy despite becoming the sixth American to win the title.

His idol, Eric Heiden, was the last to win the crown.

Wotherspoon came out firing in the first race on Tuesday, clocking a best-of-the-day 34.63 but no amount of speed could win him the gold after falling in the first run.

"I thought today I went well except for that last bend," said Wotherspoon, referring to lowering his hand to stabilise himself.

Of Wotherspoon's chances had he not fallen, FitzRandolph said: "I knew he was the man I needed to skate faster than to win gold."

Wotherspoon predicted his friend's victory, which crowned a magnificent season for FitzRandolph, who had skated a personal best ahead of the Olympics.

The American, who trains in Calgary with Wotherspoon and Mike Ireland, who finished seventh, is ranked second in the World Cup standings and was the silver medallist at the World sprint championships in Norway last month.

He came a disappointing sixth in this event in Nagano, after struggling to adapt to clap skates introduced a year earlier.

FitzRandolph said the past 24 hours had been a struggle.

"Yesterday (Monday) was one of the hardest days I have ever had because I was so up and down," he said. "My nerves were acting up going in to the race."

He did not skate his best race on Tuesday. Nevertheless, he said, he had fulfilled a dream and was waiting for it all to sink in.

He said he would skate out the season before deciding whether he would retire.

"I always said I have to enjoy myself to keep doing it," he said. "This is your life, it's not a nine-to-five thing."

Shimizu, recovering from a hip injury, could not hide his disappointment during a presentation made to the athletes after the race.

"If I was able to perform in a more satisfactory physical condition I might be able to smile from the bottom of my heart," he said after the race.

His injury, sustained in October, has subdued his World Cup performances this season and he admitted last week he was worried about his form.

Carpenter, in contrast, showed amazing form to steal bronze from several more highly favoured athletes.

Ranked 27th in the World cup last season, the 22-year-old on Monday shaved three-tenths of a second off his personal best which he set earlier in the season.

"I was not surprised. I have been waiting for this my entire life," he said. "It is the best experience of my life."

Unlike the previous day, there were no falls during Tuesday's racing.

19:11 02-12-02

Olympics-Speedskating-FitzRandolph wins without a smile

By Lynda Dugdale

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - American speedskater Casey FitzRandolph benefited from friend Jeremy Wotherspoon's misfortune as he powered to victory in the men's 500 metres at the Salt Lake City Games on Tuesday.

There was no world record this time -- the first two speedskating events of the Games both produced new best times -- as FitzRandolph came home in 34.81 seconds for a two-run time of 69.23, just ahead of 1998 champion Hiroyasu Shimizu of Japan (69.26) and American Kip Carpenter (69.47).

There were also few smiles.

A distraught FitzRandolph saw his Canadian friend and training partner Wotherspoon, the pre-race favourite and 1,000 metres world record holder, crash out just a few strides into his opening run on Monday.

"This victory is absolutely tinged with sadness, he's one of my best friends," FitzRandolph said.

The 27-year-old FitzRandolph, who skated a personal best and Olympic record to lead the event after the first run, shared his muted celebrations with Carpenter, who raced with him in the final pair.

Mirroring their race, the pair skated a lap of victory to the roar of the partisan crowd and rock band Queen's "We are the Champions," each clutching an American flag.

But the normally effusive FitzRandolph contained his joy despite becoming the sixth American to win the title.

His idol, Eric Heiden, was the last to win the crown.

Wotherspoon came out firing in the first race on Tuesday, clocking a best-of-the-day 34.63 but no amount of speed could win him the gold after falling in the first run.

"I thought today I went well except for that last bend," said Wotherspoon, referring to lowering his hand to stabilise himself.

Of Wotherspoon's chances had he not fallen, FitzRandolph said: "I knew he was the man I needed to skate faster than to win gold."

Wotherspoon predicted his friend's victory, which crowned a magnificent season for FitzRandolph, who had skated a personal best ahead of the Olympics.

The American, who trains in Calgary with Wotherspoon and Mike Ireland, who finished seventh, is ranked second in the World Cup standings and was the silver medallist at the World sprint championships in Norway last month.

He came a disappointing sixth in this event in Nagano, after struggling to adapt to clap skates introduced a year earlier.

FitzRandolph said the past 24 hours had been a struggle.

"Yesterday (Monday) was one of the hardest days I have ever had because I was so up and down," he said. "My nerves were acting up going in to the race."

He did not skate his best race on Tuesday. Nevertheless, he said, he had fulfilled a dream and was waiting for it all to sink in.

He said he would skate out the season before deciding whether he would retire.

"I always said I have to enjoy myself to keep doing it," he said. "This is your life, it's not a nine-to-five thing."

Shimizu, recovering from a hip injury, could not hide his disappointment during a presentation made to the athletes after the race.

"If I was able to perform in a more satisfactory physical condition I might be able to smile from the bottom of my heart," he said after the race.

His injury, sustained in October, has subdued his World Cup performances this season and he admitted last week he was worried about his form.

Carpenter, in contrast, showed amazing form to steal bronze from several more highly favoured athletes.

Ranked 27th in the World cup last season, the 22-year-old on Monday shaved three-tenths of a second off his personal best which he set earlier in the season.

"I was not surprised. I have been waiting for this my entire life," he said. "It is the best experience of my life."

Unlike the previous day, there were no falls during Tuesday's racing.

19:11 02-12-02

Olympics-Medals table on the fifth day of competition

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Medals table on the fifth day of competition at the Winter Olympics on Tuesday

Gold Silver Bronze Total

1. U.S. 3 4 2 9

2. Norway 3 3 0 6

3. Germany 2 3 1 6

4- Finland 2 1 0 3

4- Italy 2 1 0 3

6. Russia 1 2 2 5

7. Austria 1 1 5 7

8. France 1 1 1 3

9. Netherlands 1 1 0 2

10- Estonia 1 0 1 2

10- Switzerland 1 0 1 2

12. Spain 1 0 0 1

13- Canada 0 1 1 2

13- Japan 0 1 1 2

15- China 0 0 1 1

15- Czech Republic 0 0 1 1

15- Poland 0 0 1 1

15- Sweden 0 0 1 1

17:47 02-12-02

Olympics-Freestyle skiing-Silver's just the ticket for Mayer

By Judith Crosson

DEER VALLEY, Utah, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Moguls freestyle skier Travis Mayer was so sure he wouldn't be at the Salt Lake City Olympics that he told his family and friends months ago not to bother buying tickets.

They shouldn't have listened to him. He made the team on New Year's Eve and on Tuesday performed two complex jumps in a performance impressive enough to win the silver behind Finn Janne Lahtela.

His family and friends had to scramble for tickets.

"They paid through the nose. That's how they got them," Mayer told reporters.

Mayer grew up in western New York State where snow is an industry, learning to ski on a 600-foot hill.

But towards the end of elementary school he realised he needed bigger hills, or maybe mountains, and moved out west to train in Colorado.

At his first World Cup skiing competition in December in France Mayer, who hopes to be a lawyer some day, finished 27th.

"I barely qualified for the World Cup. When I went to Steamboat Springs I threw caution to the wind." He duly finished second.

He then won the Gold Cup moguls competition in Deer Valley on New Year's Eve to earn an automatic spot with the U.S. team.

Mayer, who turns 20 two days before the end of the Games, was smart enough to listen to his coach, Jeff Wintersteen. "He let me know I was contender, not just somebody filling a spot," he said.

Mayer's strategy on Tuesday could be a recipe for life. "There are a lot of really difficult parts in this course...but I focused on getting a really fluid run. I just came out and really tried to enjoy myself."

Asked why he was smiling just before his run, he recalled: "There's no place on earth I would rather be."

20:05 02-12-02

Olympics-Cross country-Veerpalu proud of belated birthday gift

By Gennady Fyodorov

SOLDIER HOLLOW, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Estonian cross-country skier Andrus Veerpalu celebrated his 31st birthday on the day the Salt Lake City Olympics opened, but had to wait until Tuesday to receive a special present for him and his country.

Four days after the opening ceremony, Veerpalu won his country's first Winter Olympic gold medal when he powered to victory in the 15 km classical skiing.

"It makes me very proud," said Veerpalu, who also won Estonia's first world championship gold in the 30 km classical last year in Lahti. "This is a great, great success for Estonia.

"After winning the world championships, I set a goal for myself to win the Olympic gold, so this is really a dream come true for me," he added.

Estonian teams took part in three Winter Olympics before their country was annexed into the Soviet Union in 1940 and they have been at three Games since independence in 1991 -- all without a single medal success.

Estonian speed skater Ants Antson won the 1,500m title at the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics, competing for the Soviet Union.

Veerpalu, who beat Norway's silver medalist Frode Estil by 36 seconds, received a congratulatory phone call from the Estonian Prime Minister in the finish area.

"He told me that they were cheering in front of the television for me and my team mates," the skier said.

Overall, it was a great day for Estonia as Veerpalu's team mate, Jaak Mae, took the bronze just behind Estil.

FIRST PODIUM

"This is my first podium finish and I'm very happy," said Mae, a former truck driver, who had never finished better than fifth in any Olympic or world championship races.

Estil finished second by two hundredths of a second behind Veerpalu in the world championship 30 km race last year. He was as gracious in defeat on Tuesday as he was in Lahti.

"I started very slow and I didn't use all my power, but I was told that I still was in the top two at the 2-km mark," said the Norwegian.

"I though I have a good chance (for gold), but Andrus was just too strong today, so I have to be satisfied with a silver."

Estil also said that Veerpalu's victory was good for international skiing.

"Norway has won a lot of Olympic and world championship medals, so I think it's great for international skiing that some new countries are also winning gold medals," he said.

"We had Spain winning their first gold on Saturday and today it was Estonia's moment of glory.

The Estonians said they were not going to rest on their laurels after the double success.

"Of course, we're going to celebrate tonight, maybe not as much as we would have liked because we still have some more races to go," Veerpalu said. "But believe me, they are going to celebrate big tonight in Tallinn and the rest of Estonia.

"We have a chance for more medals. It's great to give yourself a nice birthday present with the gold medal."

If Veerpalu's present was late, Mae's has come early -- his 30th birthday is the day after the Olympic closing ceremony.

18:36 02-12-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Third time lucky for Austria's Goetschl

By Julia Ferguson

SNOWBASIN, Utah, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Austria's Renate Goetschl put her Olympic jinx to rest on Tuesday, taking a bronze in the downhill for her first medal at her third Winter Games.

But at first it seemed as if her dream of capturing the only Alpine skiing trophy missing from her glittering career would turn into a nightmare.

The pre-race favourite by dint of winning the last two downhills before the Games, lingered alone in the finish area, head bowed low after witnessing her third-place finish light up on the scoreboard behind winner Carole Montillet of France.

"I was disappointed at first when I skied into the finish area and saw my time and that there were another 10 favourites to follow," the 26-year-old said.

But the Austrian's time held. Not even downhill world champion Michaela Dorfmeister, starting 10 places after her team mate, could squeeze on to the podium.

"Something would be wrong if I weren't satisfied with bronze. After all, I've now competed in three Olympic Games and had previously been without a medal. This time it worked out."

"I can also count myself lucky because I'm just one tenth ahead of (Germany's Hilde) Gerg, so I'm very content with my third place."

Double world champion Goetschl, one of the few women racers who competes in all five disciplines, exploded on to the circuit at the age of 17 when she rewrote Alpine skiing history by becoming the first woman to win a slalom from the highest start number ever of 42.

The Austrian with a fondness for motorcycles has been the most consistent racer over the past four winters and has captured four World Cup crowns, including the overall title in 2000. Her current tally stands at 23 World Cup wins.

But her Olympian exploits had hitherto been blighted. Debuting at Lillehammer in 1994, she crashed out in the downhill and again in Nagano, as well as in the combined.

The Austrian's quest for that elusive Olympic gold is not over yet. She is the overriding favourite for the combined, which adds timings from a downhill to a slalom, after winning the World Cup tour's two events this winter.

While the super-G is also for the taking, she is not letting herself be put under any undue pressure.

"I'm happy that this (downhill) race is over and that I have a medal. Now the pressure is gone and I can just concentrate on doing my best."

20:05 02-12-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Third time lucky for Austria's Goetschl

By Julia Ferguson

SNOWBASIN, Utah, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Austria's Renate Goetschl put her Olympic jinx to rest on Tuesday, taking a bronze in the downhill for her first medal at her third Winter Games.

But at first it seemed as if her dream of capturing the only Alpine skiing trophy missing from her glittering career would turn into a nightmare.

The pre-race favourite by dint of winning the last two downhills before the Games, lingered alone in the finish area, head bowed low after witnessing her third-place finish light up on the scoreboard behind winner Carole Montillet of France.

"I was disappointed at first when I skied into the finish area and saw my time and that there were another 10 favourites to follow," the 26-year-old said.

But the Austrian's time held. Not even downhill world champion Michaela Dorfmeister, starting 10 places after her team mate, could squeeze on to the podium.

"Something would be wrong if I weren't satisfied with bronze. After all, I've now competed in three Olympic Games and had previously been without a medal. This time it worked out."

"I can also count myself lucky because I'm just one tenth ahead of (Germany's Hilde) Gerg, so I'm very content with my third place."

Double world champion Goetschl, one of the few women racers who competes in all five disciplines, exploded on to the circuit at the age of 17 when she rewrote Alpine skiing history by becoming the first woman to win a slalom from the highest start number ever of 42.

The Austrian with a fondness for motorcycles has been the most consistent racer over the past four winters and has captured four World Cup crowns, including the overall title in 2000. Her current tally stands at 23 World Cup wins.

But her Olympian exploits had hitherto been blighted. Debuting at Lillehammer in 1994, she crashed out in the downhill and again in Nagano, as well as in the combined.

The Austrian's quest for that elusive Olympic gold is not over yet. She is the overriding favourite for the combined, which adds timings from a downhill to a slalom, after winning the World Cup tour's two events this winter.

While the super-G is also for the taking, she is not letting herself be put under any undue pressure.

"I'm happy that this (downhill) race is over and that I have a medal. Now the pressure is gone and I can just concentrate on doing my best."

20:05 02-12-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Third time lucky for Austria's Goetschl

By Julia Ferguson

SNOWBASIN, Utah, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Austria's Renate Goetschl put her Olympic jinx to rest on Tuesday, taking a bronze in the downhill for her first medal at her third Winter Games.

But at first it seemed as if her dream of capturing the only Alpine skiing trophy missing from her glittering career would turn into a nightmare.

The pre-race favourite by dint of winning the last two downhills before the Games, lingered alone in the finish area, head bowed low after witnessing her third-place finish light up on the scoreboard behind winner Carole Montillet of France.

"I was disappointed at first when I skied into the finish area and saw my time and that there were another 10 favourites to follow," the 26-year-old said.

But the Austrian's time held. Not even downhill world champion Michaela Dorfmeister, starting 10 places after her team mate, could squeeze on to the podium.

"Something would be wrong if I weren't satisfied with bronze. After all, I've now competed in three Olympic Games and had previously been without a medal. This time it worked out."

"I can also count myself lucky because I'm just one tenth ahead of (Germany's Hilde) Gerg, so I'm very content with my third place."

Double world champion Goetschl, one of the few women racers who competes in all five disciplines, exploded on to the circuit at the age of 17 when she rewrote Alpine skiing history by becoming the first woman to win a slalom from the highest start number ever of 42.

The Austrian with a fondness for motorcycles has been the most consistent racer over the past four winters and has captured four World Cup crowns, including the overall title in 2000. Her current tally stands at 23 World Cup wins.

But her Olympian exploits had hitherto been blighted. Debuting at Lillehammer in 1994, she crashed out in the downhill and again in Nagano, as well as in the combined.

The Austrian's quest for that elusive Olympic gold is not over yet. She is the overriding favourite for the combined, which adds timings from a downhill to a slalom, after winning the World Cup tour's two events this winter.

While the super-G is also for the taking, she is not letting herself be put under any undue pressure.

"I'm happy that this (downhill) race is over and that I have a medal. Now the pressure is gone and I can just concentrate on doing my best."

20:05 02-12-02

Olympics-Medals table on the fifth day of competition

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Medals table on the fifth day of competition at the Winter Olympics on Tuesday

Gold Silver Bronze Total

1. U.S. 3 4 2 9

2. Norway 3 3 0 6

3. Germany 2 3 1 6

4- Finland 2 1 0 3

4- Italy 2 1 0 3

6. Russia 1 2 2 5

7. Austria 1 1 5 7

8. France 1 1 1 3

9. Netherlands 1 1 0 2

10- Estonia 1 0 1 2

10- Switzerland 1 0 1 2

12. Spain 1 0 0 1

13- Canada 0 1 1 2

13- Japan 0 1 1 2

15- China 0 0 1 1

15- Czech Republic 0 0 1 1

15- Poland 0 0 1 1

15- Sweden 0 0 1 1

17:47 02-12-02

Olympics-Cross country-Veerpalu proud of belated birthday gift

By Gennady Fyodorov

SOLDIER HOLLOW, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Estonian cross-country skier Andrus Veerpalu celebrated his 31st birthday on the day the Salt Lake City Olympics opened, but had to wait until Tuesday to receive a special present for him and his country.

Four days after the opening ceremony, Veerpalu won his country's first Winter Olympic gold medal when he powered to victory in the 15 km classical skiing.

"It makes me very proud," said Veerpalu, who also won Estonia's first world championship gold in the 30 km classical last year in Lahti. "This is a great, great success for Estonia.

"After winning the world championships, I set a goal for myself to win the Olympic gold, so this is really a dream come true for me," he added.

Estonian teams took part in three Winter Olympics before their country was annexed into the Soviet Union in 1940 and they have been at three Games since independence in 1991 -- all without a single medal success.

Estonian speed skater Ants Antson won the 1,500m title at the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics, competing for the Soviet Union.

Veerpalu, who beat Norway's silver medalist Frode Estil by 36 seconds, received a congratulatory phone call from the Estonian Prime Minister in the finish area.

"He told me that they were cheering in front of the television for me and my team mates," the skier said.

Overall, it was a great day for Estonia as Veerpalu's team mate, Jaak Mae, took the bronze just behind Estil.

FIRST PODIUM

"This is my first podium finish and I'm very happy," said Mae, a former truck driver, who had never finished better than fifth in any Olympic or world championship races.

Estil finished second by two hundredths of a second behind Veerpalu in the world championship 30 km race last year. He was as gracious in defeat on Tuesday as he was in Lahti.

"I started very slow and I didn't use all my power, but I was told that I still was in the top two at the 2-km mark," said the Norwegian.

"I though I have a good chance (for gold), but Andrus was just too strong today, so I have to be satisfied with a silver."

Estil also said that Veerpalu's victory was good for international skiing.

"Norway has won a lot of Olympic and world championship medals, so I think it's great for international skiing that some new countries are also winning gold medals," he said.

"We had Spain winning their first gold on Saturday and today it was Estonia's moment of glory.

The Estonians said they were not going to rest on their laurels after the double success.

"Of course, we're going to celebrate tonight, maybe not as much as we would have liked because we still have some more races to go," Veerpalu said. "But believe me, they are going to celebrate big tonight in Tallinn and the rest of Estonia.

"We have a chance for more medals. It's great to give yourself a nice birthday present with the gold medal."

If Veerpalu's present was late, Mae's has come early -- his 30th birthday is the day after the Olympic closing ceremony.

18:36 02-12-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Third time lucky for Austria's Goetschl

By Julia Ferguson

SNOWBASIN, Utah, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Austria's Renate Goetschl put her Olympic jinx to rest on Tuesday, taking a bronze in the downhill for her first medal at her third Winter Games.

But at first it seemed as if her dream of capturing the only Alpine skiing trophy missing from her glittering career would turn into a nightmare.

The pre-race favourite by dint of winning the last two downhills before the Games, lingered alone in the finish area, head bowed low after witnessing her third-place finish light up on the scoreboard behind winner Carole Montillet of France.

"I was disappointed at first when I skied into the finish area and saw my time and that there were another 10 favourites to follow," the 26-year-old said.

But the Austrian's time held. Not even downhill world champion Michaela Dorfmeister, starting 10 places after her team mate, could squeeze on to the podium.

"Something would be wrong if I weren't satisfied with bronze. After all, I've now competed in three Olympic Games and had previously been without a medal. This time it worked out."

"I can also count myself lucky because I'm just one tenth ahead of (Germany's Hilde) Gerg, so I'm very content with my third place."

Double world champion Goetschl, one of the few women racers who competes in all five disciplines, exploded on to the circuit at the age of 17 when she rewrote Alpine skiing history by becoming the first woman to win a slalom from the highest start number ever of 42.

The Austrian with a fondness for motorcycles has been the most consistent racer over the past four winters and has captured four World Cup crowns, including the overall title in 2000. Her current tally stands at 23 World Cup wins.

But her Olympian exploits had hitherto been blighted. Debuting at Lillehammer in 1994, she crashed out in the downhill and again in Nagano, as well as in the combined.

The Austrian's quest for that elusive Olympic gold is not over yet. She is the overriding favourite for the combined, which adds timings from a downhill to a slalom, after winning the World Cup tour's two events this winter.

While the super-G is also for the taking, she is not letting herself be put under any undue pressure.

"I'm happy that this (downhill) race is over and that I have a medal. Now the pressure is gone and I can just concentrate on doing my best."

20:05 02-12-02

Olympics-Cross country-Veerpalu proud of belated birthday gift

By Gennady Fyodorov

SOLDIER HOLLOW, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Estonian cross-country skier Andrus Veerpalu celebrated his 31st birthday on the day the Salt Lake City Olympics opened, but had to wait until Tuesday to receive a special present for him and his country.

Four days after the opening ceremony, Veerpalu won his country's first Winter Olympic gold medal when he powered to victory in the 15 km classical skiing.

"It makes me very proud," said Veerpalu, who also won Estonia's first world championship gold in the 30 km classical last year in Lahti. "This is a great, great success for Estonia.

"After winning the world championships, I set a goal for myself to win the Olympic gold, so this is really a dream come true for me," he added.

Estonian teams took part in three Winter Olympics before their country was annexed into the Soviet Union in 1940 and they have been at three Games since independence in 1991 -- all without a single medal success.

Estonian speed skater Ants Antson won the 1,500m title at the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics, competing for the Soviet Union.

Veerpalu, who beat Norway's silver medalist Frode Estil by 36 seconds, received a congratulatory phone call from the Estonian Prime Minister in the finish area.

"He told me that they were cheering in front of the television for me and my team mates," the skier said.

Overall, it was a great day for Estonia as Veerpalu's team mate, Jaak Mae, took the bronze just behind Estil.

FIRST PODIUM

"This is my first podium finish and I'm very happy," said Mae, a former truck driver, who had never finished better than fifth in any Olympic or world championship races.

Estil finished second by two hundredths of a second behind Veerpalu in the world championship 30 km race last year. He was as gracious in defeat on Tuesday as he was in Lahti.

"I started very slow and I didn't use all my power, but I was told that I still was in the top two at the 2-km mark," said the Norwegian.

"I though I have a good chance (for gold), but Andrus was just too strong today, so I have to be satisfied with a silver."

Estil also said that Veerpalu's victory was good for international skiing.

"Norway has won a lot of Olympic and world championship medals, so I think it's great for international skiing that some new countries are also winning gold medals," he said.

"We had Spain winning their first gold on Saturday and today it was Estonia's moment of glory.

The Estonians said they were not going to rest on their laurels after the double success.

"Of course, we're going to celebrate tonight, maybe not as much as we would have liked because we still have some more races to go," Veerpalu said. "But believe me, they are going to celebrate big tonight in Tallinn and the rest of Estonia.

"We have a chance for more medals. It's great to give yourself a nice birthday present with the gold medal."

If Veerpalu's present was late, Mae's has come early -- his 30th birthday is the day after the Olympic closing ceremony.

18:36 02-12-02

1-Olympics-Figure skating-Canadian anger forces inquiry

By Robert Woodward

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Canadian outrage forced figure skating's ruling body to launch an inquiry into judging at the Winter Olympics on Tuesday following Russia's controversial victory in the pairs.

Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze won the gold ahead of Canada's Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, despite skating below their best ahead of a flawless Canadian performance.

The judges were loudly booed in the Olympic Ice Center on Monday and faced a barrage of criticism 12 hours later.

After watching Sale, his sweetheart on and off the ice, break down in tears at the medals ceremony, Pelletier said he was so disillusioned with the sport he might retire and the top Canadian official at the Games insisted the judges were wrong.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the wrong pair was standing at the top of the podium," said chef de mission Sally Rehorick who is also an Olympic level figure skating judge. "We are very disappointed. There's no doubt about that."

Reaction back home in Canada was even fiercer. "Robbed!" bellowed the front page headlines of the Ottawa Sun and Winnipeg Free Press newspapers.

"Last night's decision will likely go down as one of the most controversial of all time, even one of the most outrageous," said the Calgary Sun newspaper.

Faced with this barrage of criticism, the International Skating Union ordered an inquiry.

"Following the reaction of the public and the media to the results of the pairs event at the Salt Lake Ice Center last night, and to respect public opinion, the ISU is doing an internal assessment to monitor if the ISU rules and procedures have been respected," it said in a statement.

The ISU made its statement after a routine judges' meeting to look back at Monday's voting.

CONTROVERSIAL HISTORY

Judging in figure skating has long been a subject of controversy because of the value judgments involved in rating presentation, and suspicions that vote-trading and block voting play an important role in the distribution of medals.

Scott Hamilton, the 1984 men's gold medallist, told reporters he was shocked and astounded by the decision to give the Russians the gold as he believed it was a "no-brainer" that the Canadian pair had won.

But the American said he did not believe the decision was based on politics, rather it showed a cultural chasm between judges from the former Eastern bloc and western nations.

The five judges who voted for the Russians were from Russia, Ukraine, Poland, China and France. The U.S., Canadian, German and Japanese judges awarded top marks to the Canadians.

Hamilton said: "The ISU has to look at the technical committees where someone can have too much power and can intimidate judges.

"They have to make it as democratic as possible and look at the structure - the powers of the technical director and the referee. The ISU must find a way to give every judge the chance to do what's right."

Pelletier said he would wait for the ISU's inquiry before deciding definitely about his future in the sport.

"Better to sit back and let the dust settle with the inquiries and see what happens," he told reporters on Tuesday.

"It's not good for the sport, like doping in track and field and bobsleigh. A controversy is not good for sport."

17:46 02-12-02

Olympics-Freestyle skiing-Silver's just the ticket for Mayer

By Judith Crosson

DEER VALLEY, Utah, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Moguls freestyle skier Travis Mayer was so sure he wouldn't be at the Salt Lake City Olympics that he told his family and friends months ago not to bother buying tickets.

They shouldn't have listened to him. He made the team on New Year's Eve and on Tuesday performed two complex jumps in a performance impressive enough to win the silver behind Finn Janne Lahtela.

His family and friends had to scramble for tickets.

"They paid through the nose. That's how they got them," Mayer told reporters.

Mayer grew up in western New York State where snow is an industry, learning to ski on a 600-foot hill.

But towards the end of elementary school he realised he needed bigger hills, or maybe mountains, and moved out west to train in Colorado.

At his first World Cup skiing competition in December in France Mayer, who hopes to be a lawyer some day, finished 27th.

"I barely qualified for the World Cup. When I went to Steamboat Springs I threw caution to the wind." He duly finished second.

He then won the Gold Cup moguls competition in Deer Valley on New Year's Eve to earn an automatic spot with the U.S. team.

Mayer, who turns 20 two days before the end of the Games, was smart enough to listen to his coach, Jeff Wintersteen. "He let me know I was contender, not just somebody filling a spot," he said.

Mayer's strategy on Tuesday could be a recipe for life. "There are a lot of really difficult parts in this course...but I focused on getting a really fluid run. I just came out and really tried to enjoy myself."

Asked why he was smiling just before his run, he recalled: "There's no place on earth I would rather be."

20:05 02-12-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Third time lucky for Austria's Goetschl

By Julia Ferguson

SNOWBASIN, Utah, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Austria's Renate Goetschl put her Olympic jinx to rest on Tuesday, taking a bronze in the downhill for her first medal at her third Winter Games.

But at first it seemed as if her dream of capturing the only Alpine skiing trophy missing from her glittering career would turn into a nightmare.

The pre-race favourite by dint of winning the last two downhills before the Games, lingered alone in the finish area, head bowed low after witnessing her third-place finish light up on the scoreboard behind winner Carole Montillet of France.

"I was disappointed at first when I skied into the finish area and saw my time and that there were another 10 favourites to follow," the 26-year-old said.

But the Austrian's time held. Not even downhill world champion Michaela Dorfmeister, starting 10 places after her team mate, could squeeze on to the podium.

"Something would be wrong if I weren't satisfied with bronze. After all, I've now competed in three Olympic Games and had previously been without a medal. This time it worked out."

"I can also count myself lucky because I'm just one tenth ahead of (Germany's Hilde) Gerg, so I'm very content with my third place."

Double world champion Goetschl, one of the few women racers who competes in all five disciplines, exploded on to the circuit at the age of 17 when she rewrote Alpine skiing history by becoming the first woman to win a slalom from the highest start number ever of 42.

The Austrian with a fondness for motorcycles has been the most consistent racer over the past four winters and has captured four World Cup crowns, including the overall title in 2000. Her current tally stands at 23 World Cup wins.

But her Olympian exploits had hitherto been blighted. Debuting at Lillehammer in 1994, she crashed out in the downhill and again in Nagano, as well as in the combined.

The Austrian's quest for that elusive Olympic gold is not over yet. She is the overriding favourite for the combined, which adds timings from a downhill to a slalom, after winning the World Cup tour's two events this winter.

While the super-G is also for the taking, she is not letting herself be put under any undue pressure.

"I'm happy that this (downhill) race is over and that I have a medal. Now the pressure is gone and I can just concentrate on doing my best."

20:05 02-12-02

Olympics-Cross country-Veerpalu proud of belated birthday gift

By Gennady Fyodorov

SOLDIER HOLLOW, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Estonian cross-country skier Andrus Veerpalu celebrated his 31st birthday on the day the Salt Lake City Olympics opened, but had to wait until Tuesday to receive a special present for him and his country.

Four days after the opening ceremony, Veerpalu won his country's first Winter Olympic gold medal when he powered to victory in the 15 km classical skiing.

"It makes me very proud," said Veerpalu, who also won Estonia's first world championship gold in the 30 km classical last year in Lahti. "This is a great, great success for Estonia.

"After winning the world championships, I set a goal for myself to win the Olympic gold, so this is really a dream come true for me," he added.

Estonian teams took part in three Winter Olympics before their country was annexed into the Soviet Union in 1940 and they have been at three Games since independence in 1991 -- all without a single medal success.

Estonian speed skater Ants Antson won the 1,500m title at the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics, competing for the Soviet Union.

Veerpalu, who beat Norway's silver medalist Frode Estil by 36 seconds, received a congratulatory phone call from the Estonian Prime Minister in the finish area.

"He told me that they were cheering in front of the television for me and my team mates," the skier said.

Overall, it was a great day for Estonia as Veerpalu's team mate, Jaak Mae, took the bronze just behind Estil.

FIRST PODIUM

"This is my first podium finish and I'm very happy," said Mae, a former truck driver, who had never finished better than fifth in any Olympic or world championship races.

Estil finished second by two hundredths of a second behind Veerpalu in the world championship 30 km race last year. He was as gracious in defeat on Tuesday as he was in Lahti.

"I started very slow and I didn't use all my power, but I was told that I still was in the top two at the 2-km mark," said the Norwegian.

"I though I have a good chance (for gold), but Andrus was just too strong today, so I have to be satisfied with a silver."

Estil also said that Veerpalu's victory was good for international skiing.

"Norway has won a lot of Olympic and world championship medals, so I think it's great for international skiing that some new countries are also winning gold medals," he said.

"We had Spain winning their first gold on Saturday and today it was Estonia's moment of glory.

The Estonians said they were not going to rest on their laurels after the double success.

"Of course, we're going to celebrate tonight, maybe not as much as we would have liked because we still have some more races to go," Veerpalu said. "But believe me, they are going to celebrate big tonight in Tallinn and the rest of Estonia.

"We have a chance for more medals. It's great to give yourself a nice birthday present with the gold medal."

If Veerpalu's present was late, Mae's has come early -- his 30th birthday is the day after the Olympic closing ceremony.

18:36 02-12-02

Olympics-Medals table on the fifth day of competition

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Medals table on the fifth day of competition at the Winter Olympics on Tuesday

Gold Silver Bronze Total

1. U.S. 3 4 2 9

2. Norway 3 3 0 6

3. Germany 2 3 1 6

4- Finland 2 1 0 3

4- Italy 2 1 0 3

6. Russia 1 2 2 5

7. Austria 1 1 5 7

8. France 1 1 1 3

9. Netherlands 1 1 0 2

10- Estonia 1 0 1 2

10- Switzerland 1 0 1 2

12. Spain 1 0 0 1

13- Canada 0 1 1 2

13- Japan 0 1 1 2

15- China 0 0 1 1

15- Czech Republic 0 0 1 1

15- Poland 0 0 1 1

15- Sweden 0 0 1 1

17:47 02-12-02

Olympic bombing case heads for Supreme Court

By Paul Simao

ATLANTA (Reuters) - A Georgia man falsely suspected of planting a bomb at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to quash a lower court ruling that made it more difficult for him to win a libel suit against a newspaper, his lawyer said Tuesday.

Richard Jewell, a former security guard investigated and later cleared of involvement in the July 27, 1996, bombing at Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park, sued the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for printing a series of articles that he claimed portrayed and vilified him as the bomber.

One woman was killed and more than 100 people were injured after a pipe bomb exploded in the park during a crowded outdoor concert. Another person suffered a fatal heart attack after the explosion.

Jewell later filed lawsuits against a number of media outlets. His case against the Journal-Constitution suffered a setback last year when the Georgia Court of Appeals ruled he became a public figure when interviewed by the media after the bombing.

To win a libel case, public figures, as opposed to private citizens, must prove that a publication not only printed false information but also knew or suspected that it was false. Georgia's Supreme Court has refused to hear Jewell's appeal.

"I have always suspected that the Supreme Court is where this issue of public and private figure may have to be finally determined," said Lin Wood, Jewell's attorney. Wood added that an appeal would be filed within three months.

Jewell's decision to head to the Supreme Court came just days after the 2002 Winter Olympic Games began in Salt Lake City, Utah, amid concerns about security in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

INTERVIEWED BY JOURNALISTS

Ironically, it was diligent security instincts that brought Jewell to national attention in 1996.

While working as a security guard in downtown Atlanta he spotted the bag that contained the bomb, alerted police and helped clear panicked concert-goers out of the park.

Jewell was praised as a hero and interviewed a number of times by journalists, but he later fell under police suspicion and became a virtual prisoner in his family's suburban home.

An attorney for the Journal-Constitution, which is owned by the Atlanta-based media company Cox Communications Inc. , claimed that Jewell made himself a public figure in the days after the bombing when he allegedly told journalists that Olympic security was adequate and that it was safe to return to the park.

Peter Canfield, a lawyer who represents the daily newspaper, said the Georgia courts had correctly applied the law in the Jewell case and added that the U.S. Supreme Court should not consider it.

"This does not apply any kind of new form of the law. It really applies very basic well-settled legal principles to find that he was a public figure," Canfield said.

No one has been arrested in connection with the Atlanta Olympic bombing. Eric Rudolph, a fugitive linked to the militant anti-abortion Army of God group, was the only person charged with the crime.

14:46 02-12-02

Olympics-Freestyle skiing-Silver's just the ticket for Mayer

By Judith Crosson

DEER VALLEY, Utah, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Moguls freestyle skier Travis Mayer was so sure he wouldn't be at the Salt Lake City Olympics that he told his family and friends months ago not to bother buying tickets.

They shouldn't have listened to him. He made the team on New Year's Eve and on Tuesday performed two complex jumps in a performance impressive enough to win the silver behind Finn Janne Lahtela.

His family and friends had to scramble for tickets.

"They paid through the nose. That's how they got them," Mayer told reporters.

Mayer grew up in western New York State where snow is an industry, learning to ski on a 600-foot hill.

But towards the end of elementary school he realised he needed bigger hills, or maybe mountains, and moved out west to train in Colorado.

At his first World Cup skiing competition in December in France Mayer, who hopes to be a lawyer some day, finished 27th.

"I barely qualified for the World Cup. When I went to Steamboat Springs I threw caution to the wind." He duly finished second.

He then won the Gold Cup moguls competition in Deer Valley on New Year's Eve to earn an automatic spot with the U.S. team.

Mayer, who turns 20 two days before the end of the Games, was smart enough to listen to his coach, Jeff Wintersteen. "He let me know I was contender, not just somebody filling a spot," he said.

Mayer's strategy on Tuesday could be a recipe for life. "There are a lot of really difficult parts in this course...but I focused on getting a really fluid run. I just came out and really tried to enjoy myself."

Asked why he was smiling just before his run, he recalled: "There's no place on earth I would rather be."

20:05 02-12-02

1-Olympics-Figure skating-Canadian anger forces inquiry

By Robert Woodward

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Canadian outrage forced figure skating's ruling body to launch an inquiry into judging at the Winter Olympics on Tuesday following Russia's controversial victory in the pairs.

Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze won the gold ahead of Canada's Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, despite skating below their best ahead of a flawless Canadian performance.

The judges were loudly booed in the Olympic Ice Center on Monday and faced a barrage of criticism 12 hours later.

After watching Sale, his sweetheart on and off the ice, break down in tears at the medals ceremony, Pelletier said he was so disillusioned with the sport he might retire and the top Canadian official at the Games insisted the judges were wrong.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the wrong pair was standing at the top of the podium," said chef de mission Sally Rehorick who is also an Olympic level figure skating judge. "We are very disappointed. There's no doubt about that."

Reaction back home in Canada was even fiercer. "Robbed!" bellowed the front page headlines of the Ottawa Sun and Winnipeg Free Press newspapers.

"Last night's decision will likely go down as one of the most controversial of all time, even one of the most outrageous," said the Calgary Sun newspaper.

Faced with this barrage of criticism, the International Skating Union ordered an inquiry.

"Following the reaction of the public and the media to the results of the pairs event at the Salt Lake Ice Center last night, and to respect public opinion, the ISU is doing an internal assessment to monitor if the ISU rules and procedures have been respected," it said in a statement.

The ISU made its statement after a routine judges' meeting to look back at Monday's voting.

CONTROVERSIAL HISTORY

Judging in figure skating has long been a subject of controversy because of the value judgments involved in rating presentation, and suspicions that vote-trading and block voting play an important role in the distribution of medals.

Scott Hamilton, the 1984 men's gold medallist, told reporters he was shocked and astounded by the decision to give the Russians the gold as he believed it was a "no-brainer" that the Canadian pair had won.

But the American said he did not believe the decision was based on politics, rather it showed a cultural chasm between judges from the former Eastern bloc and western nations.

The five judges who voted for the Russians were from Russia, Ukraine, Poland, China and France. The U.S., Canadian, German and Japanese judges awarded top marks to the Canadians.

Hamilton said: "The ISU has to look at the technical committees where someone can have too much power and can intimidate judges.

"They have to make it as democratic as possible and look at the structure - the powers of the technical director and the referee. The ISU must find a way to give every judge the chance to do what's right."

Pelletier said he would wait for the ISU's inquiry before deciding definitely about his future in the sport.

"Better to sit back and let the dust settle with the inquiries and see what happens," he told reporters on Tuesday.

"It's not good for the sport, like doping in track and field and bobsleigh. A controversy is not good for sport."

17:46 02-12-02

Olympics-Cross country-Veerpalu proud of belated birthday gift

By Gennady Fyodorov

SOLDIER HOLLOW, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Estonian cross-country skier Andrus Veerpalu celebrated his 31st birthday on the day the Salt Lake City Olympics opened, but had to wait until Tuesday to receive a special present for him and his country.

Four days after the opening ceremony, Veerpalu won his country's first Winter Olympic gold medal when he powered to victory in the 15 km classical skiing.

"It makes me very proud," said Veerpalu, who also won Estonia's first world championship gold in the 30 km classical last year in Lahti. "This is a great, great success for Estonia.

"After winning the world championships, I set a goal for myself to win the Olympic gold, so this is really a dream come true for me," he added.

Estonian teams took part in three Winter Olympics before their country was annexed into the Soviet Union in 1940 and they have been at three Games since independence in 1991 -- all without a single medal success.

Estonian speed skater Ants Antson won the 1,500m title at the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics, competing for the Soviet Union.

Veerpalu, who beat Norway's silver medalist Frode Estil by 36 seconds, received a congratulatory phone call from the Estonian Prime Minister in the finish area.

"He told me that they were cheering in front of the television for me and my team mates," the skier said.

Overall, it was a great day for Estonia as Veerpalu's team mate, Jaak Mae, took the bronze just behind Estil.

FIRST PODIUM

"This is my first podium finish and I'm very happy," said Mae, a former truck driver, who had never finished better than fifth in any Olympic or world championship races.

Estil finished second by two hundredths of a second behind Veerpalu in the world championship 30 km race last year. He was as gracious in defeat on Tuesday as he was in Lahti.

"I started very slow and I didn't use all my power, but I was told that I still was in the top two at the 2-km mark," said the Norwegian.

"I though I have a good chance (for gold), but Andrus was just too strong today, so I have to be satisfied with a silver."

Estil also said that Veerpalu's victory was good for international skiing.

"Norway has won a lot of Olympic and world championship medals, so I think it's great for international skiing that some new countries are also winning gold medals," he said.

"We had Spain winning their first gold on Saturday and today it was Estonia's moment of glory.

The Estonians said they were not going to rest on their laurels after the double success.

"Of course, we're going to celebrate tonight, maybe not as much as we would have liked because we still have some more races to go," Veerpalu said. "But believe me, they are going to celebrate big tonight in Tallinn and the rest of Estonia.

"We have a chance for more medals. It's great to give yourself a nice birthday present with the gold medal."

If Veerpalu's present was late, Mae's has come early -- his 30th birthday is the day after the Olympic closing ceremony.

18:36 02-12-02

Olympics-Medals table on the fifth day of competition

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Medals table on the fifth day of competition at the Winter Olympics on Tuesday

Gold Silver Bronze Total

1. U.S. 3 4 2 9

2. Norway 3 3 0 6

3. Germany 2 3 1 6

4- Finland 2 1 0 3

4- Italy 2 1 0 3

6. Russia 1 2 2 5

7. Austria 1 1 5 7

8. France 1 1 1 3

9. Netherlands 1 1 0 2

10- Estonia 1 0 1 2

10- Switzerland 1 0 1 2

12. Spain 1 0 0 1

13- Canada 0 1 1 2

13- Japan 0 1 1 2

15- China 0 0 1 1

15- Czech Republic 0 0 1 1

15- Poland 0 0 1 1

15- Sweden 0 0 1 1

17:47 02-12-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Third time lucky for Austria's Goetschl

By Julia Ferguson

SNOWBASIN, Utah, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Austria's Renate Goetschl put her Olympic jinx to rest on Tuesday, taking a bronze in the downhill for her first medal at her third Winter Games.

But at first it seemed as if her dream of capturing the only Alpine skiing trophy missing from her glittering career would turn into a nightmare.

The pre-race favourite by dint of winning the last two downhills before the Games, lingered alone in the finish area, head bowed low after witnessing her third-place finish light up on the scoreboard behind winner Carole Montillet of France.

"I was disappointed at first when I skied into the finish area and saw my time and that there were another 10 favourites to follow," the 26-year-old said.

But the Austrian's time held. Not even downhill world champion Michaela Dorfmeister, starting 10 places after her team mate, could squeeze on to the podium.

"Something would be wrong if I weren't satisfied with bronze. After all, I've now competed in three Olympic Games and had previously been without a medal. This time it worked out."

"I can also count myself lucky because I'm just one tenth ahead of (Germany's Hilde) Gerg, so I'm very content with my third place."

Double world champion Goetschl, one of the few women racers who competes in all five disciplines, exploded on to the circuit at the age of 17 when she rewrote Alpine skiing history by becoming the first woman to win a slalom from the highest start number ever of 42.

The Austrian with a fondness for motorcycles has been the most consistent racer over the past four winters and has captured four World Cup crowns, including the overall title in 2000. Her current tally stands at 23 World Cup wins.

But her Olympian exploits had hitherto been blighted. Debuting at Lillehammer in 1994, she crashed out in the downhill and again in Nagano, as well as in the combined.

The Austrian's quest for that elusive Olympic gold is not over yet. She is the overriding favourite for the combined, which adds timings from a downhill to a slalom, after winning the World Cup tour's two events this winter.

While the super-G is also for the taking, she is not letting herself be put under any undue pressure.

"I'm happy that this (downhill) race is over and that I have a medal. Now the pressure is gone and I can just concentrate on doing my best."

20:05 02-12-02

Olympics-Figure skating-Bitter Pelletier considers quitting

By Patrick White

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Canadian figure skater David Pelletier is considering quitting the sport after he and sweetheart Jamie Sale missed out on the pairs gold at the Winter Olympics following a judging controversy.

"It is getting to an end," Pelletier told French-Canadian reporters as Salt Lake City awoke on Tuesday to the first big row of the Winter Games.

Tuesday morning's edition of U.S. newspapers splashed the story of Pelletier and Sale's defeat on their front pages.

Atlanta-based CNN reported that the nine judges would have to justify their decision to top Olympic officials later on Tuesday.

"After a night like tonight, you badly want to cut your figure skating career short," the Canadian figure skater said.

The Canadian duo --the reigning world champions -- were edged out by Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze on Monday as Russia maintained their grip on the discipline which dates back 11 Olympics.

But the judges' marking was greeted with boos and whistles, most of the crowd at the Olympic Ice Centre believing the Canadians' romantic free skate, performed to music from Love Story, should have landed them on top of the podium.

The outcome also sparked anger from the Canadian silver medallists, their choreographer Lori Nichol describing the result as an "embarrassment" for figure skating.

The judges from Russia, China, France, Poland and Ukraine voted for the Russian pair, while the U.S., Canada, Germany and Japan sided with the Canadians.

Pelletier, though, said he would delay a final decision, adding: "It is not the time to take a decision. I will sleep over that but it is clear that (Monday night's results) will be taken into account when it will be time for a decision."

Pelletier was set to hold a news conference at Canada's Olympic Lodge in Salt Lake City at 2 p.m. (2100 GMT) on Tuesday.

12:31 02-12-02

Olympics-Luge-After cancer, racing is so easy for 'Grandma'

By Adrian Warner

PARK CITY, Utah, Feb 12 (Reuters) - When you have battled against cancer and a brain injury, racing down an ice track on a luge at around 120 kph appears easy -- even at the age of 48.

Anne Abernathy of the Virgin Islands prepared to make history on Tuesday as the oldest woman to take part in a Winter Games when she competes in the luge at 48 and 295 days.

They call her 'Grandma Luge'. But 'Lady Luge' or 'Dame Luge' would be more appropriate for a woman who has shown amazing courage.

Abernathy was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer before she began her Olympic career at the 1988 Calgary Games at the age of 34. Last year she had to undergo four months of special treatment after suffering a brain injury in a crash on a track in Germany.

But nothing was going to stop Abernathy competing at her fifth Olympics.

"Overcoming a brain concussion is a piece of cake compared to what I've had to overcome to come here -- because I am a cancer survivor," she said in an interview. "I was diagnosed for cancer before my first Olympics and I have been fighting it off and on since then.

"Just a little knock on the head is nothing compared to the other stuff I have been through. Actually luge helped give me a goal to make it through. I think it is important to have a goal, whatever it is."

At first sight, luge appears one of the more whacky Olympic sports. But television fails to show the real speed of the racing.

MOTORWAY SPEEDS

Step near a track and the danger of sliding down a sheet of ice at speeds most people only experience on a motorway quickly becomes clear as the racers flash past.

Most people in their 40s are starting to think about turning to golf to keep active.

"It is a dangerous sport. I would not recommend someone starting it at age 48," Abernathy agreed. "But I have been doing it for 18 years now.

"I may not have the physical prowess some athletes have but I do have the experience."

But she added: ""For years and years I never crashed in a World Cup race but then in the last two seasons I've had devastating crashes. I had a really bad crash last year in Altenberg, Germany, in the World Cup where I actually came up and hit the top of the track and was knocked unconscious.

"I had to move to the U.S. for four months to California for special treatment. Everybody said there was no way I would be able to come back. The doctor said 'No'.

"I said: 'What do you mean, no?"'

SERIOUS INJURY

The previous oldest woman to take part in the Games was Canadian Edwina Chamier, at 45 years and 318 days in the Alpine skiing combined event in 1936.

She failed to complete her event but it will take a serious injury to stop Abernathy. The first two runs of the women's luge were due later on Tuesday, with the decisive third and fourth runs on Wednesday.

Abernathy, who finished 16th in Calgary but is not a medal challenger at Salt Lake, has mixed feelings about her age record. But she is happy to joke about it.

"They mentioned it at the opening ceremony so the whole world knows," she said. "I was kind of hoping a curler would come in there."

How did a woman from the Virgin Islands -- not known for luge racers -- take up the sport at 30?

"I went on a ski trip to Lake Placid and saw it for the first time there," she said. "I tried it a couple of years later and ended up training with the U.S. team in Sarajevo."

Unfortunately, none of her four Olympic races so far have been shown on television at home. She is hoping the fifth will be.

But she said: "The number one thing is I love the sport and the people in the sport."

Abernathy does not know yet whether she will carry on to the 2006 Turin Olympics.

"Four years down the road is a long way to think," she said. "But this is definitely not my last race.

"I want to come back next year fully strong and see what I can do with everything going for me."

12:18 02-12-02

Olympics-Cross country-Veerpalu proud of belated birthday gift

By Gennady Fyodorov

SOLDIER HOLLOW, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Estonian cross-country skier Andrus Veerpalu celebrated his 31st birthday on the day the Salt Lake City Olympics opened, but had to wait until Tuesday to receive a special present for him and his country.

Four days after the opening ceremony, Veerpalu won his country's first Winter Olympic gold medal when he powered to victory in the 15 km classical skiing.

"It makes me very proud," said Veerpalu, who also won Estonia's first world championship gold in the 30 km classical last year in Lahti. "This is a great, great success for Estonia.

"After winning the world championships, I set a goal for myself to win the Olympic gold, so this is really a dream come true for me," he added.

Estonian teams took part in three Winter Olympics before their country was annexed into the Soviet Union in 1940 and they have been at three Games since independence in 1991 -- all without a single medal success.

Estonian speed skater Ants Antson won the 1,500m title at the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics, competing for the Soviet Union.

Veerpalu, who beat Norway's silver medalist Frode Estil by 36 seconds, received a congratulatory phone call from the Estonian Prime Minister in the finish area.

"He told me that they were cheering in front of the television for me and my team mates," the skier said.

Overall, it was a great day for Estonia as Veerpalu's team mate, Jaak Mae, took the bronze just behind Estil.

FIRST PODIUM

"This is my first podium finish and I'm very happy," said Mae, a former truck driver, who had never finished better than fifth in any Olympic or world championship races.

Estil finished second by two hundredths of a second behind Veerpalu in the world championship 30 km race last year. He was as gracious in defeat on Tuesday as he was in Lahti.

"I started very slow and I didn't use all my power, but I was told that I still was in the top two at the 2-km mark," said the Norwegian.

"I though I have a good chance (for gold), but Andrus was just too strong today, so I have to be satisfied with a silver."

Estil also said that Veerpalu's victory was good for international skiing.

"Norway has won a lot of Olympic and world championship medals, so I think it's great for international skiing that some new countries are also winning gold medals," he said.

"We had Spain winning their first gold on Saturday and today it was Estonia's moment of glory.

The Estonians said they were not going to rest on their laurels after the double success.

"Of course, we're going to celebrate tonight, maybe not as much as we would have liked because we still have some more races to go," Veerpalu said. "But believe me, they are going to celebrate big tonight in Tallinn and the rest of Estonia.

"We have a chance for more medals. It's great to give yourself a nice birthday present with the gold medal."

If Veerpalu's present was late, Mae's has come early -- his 30th birthday is the day after the Olympic closing ceremony.

18:36 02-12-02

Olympics-We're so fed up with junk food, say Belarus

MINSK, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Belarus have accused the Winter Olympics organisers of undermining their team's chances by feeding them a forced diet of fast food.

Deputy Sports Minister Alexander Grigorov said Salt Lake City organisers had failed to fulfil their obligations to the Belarussian team, which is based 80 kilometres away from the Games.

"Our sportsmen are getting sandwiches...and various hamburgers. But they need normal meat, fresh fruit juices, hot soup," Grigorov told Reuters in Minsk.

Earlier Ivan Ryzhenkov, captain of Belarus's Olympic team and who came 30th in the men's 20 km biathlon on Monday, said the food was a major problem.

"The biathletes have not received dinner for three days. We've had trouble with food from the very first day," he told Belarus' state television from Salt Lake City.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, who is also head of the national Olympic Committee, has filed a formal protest, the sports ministry said.

Belarus have yet to win a medal at the Games, although their ice hockey team have surpassed expectations by becoming the first team to reach the final round of their event. The team won two bronzes four years ago at Nagano.

The spat is the latest in a series of disputes with the United States, which calls Lukashenko "Europe's last dictator" for his authoritarian style and poor rights record in the former Soviet republic.

11:12 02-12-02

Olympics-Greeks up in arms over Salt Lake music snub

ATHENS, Feb 12 (Reuters) - The prime minister wants an explanation. The Communist Party says there was a cover up. The state television blames the Americans.

An attempted coup? A financial scandal? No. Greece is up in arms because no one mentioned its most famous composer during Saturday's Salt Lake City Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

Mikis Theodorakis, composer of the world famous "Zorba the Greek" score, set the ball rolling by crying foul when Greek state television ERT failed to make a reference to his "Canto Olympico" when it was sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

"Dark forces" at ERT, he said, had attempted to snub his work through an "ugly act."

Theodorakis is much loved in Greece for both his music and his defiance of the 1967-1974 military junta, and his complaints were immediately taken up by the political elite.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis called for an explanation from ERT, Greek media reported on Tuesday.

The Greek Communist Party, ever on the lookout for Washington's long arm, asked Foreign Minister George Papandreou to investigate what it said was "specific American intervention" in the ceremony.

ERT said the Salt Lake City organising committee had apologised for failing to include Theodorakis's work in handouts given to reporters covering the Games.

It was not a mistake likely to be made during the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

08:47 02-12-02

Olympics-'Mother' Montillet wins downhill gold

By Robert Woodward

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Carole Montillet, the "mother" of France's ski team since the death of Regine Cavagnoud in October, paid the perfect tribute to her friend by winning the downhill at the Winter Olympics on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old had won only one super-G in a decade on the circuit but she threw caution to the winds and "raced for Regine" down the Wildflower piste.

On the fourth day of the 17-day Games, the first major controversy of the Games forced the governing body of figure skating to launch an inquiry into a controversial Russian victory in the pairs.

Judges gave Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze the gold but spectators in the Olympic Ice Centre on Monday - and practically every commentator - believed the Canadian pair of Jamie Sale and David Pelletier had done enough to win.

Estonia won their first medals in the Winter Olympics in the 15-km classical cross-country race and Finn Janne Lahtela stopped an American takeover of the younger Olympic disciplines by winning the men's freestyle moguls.

But the host country won gold in the men's 500 metres speed skating when Casey FitzRandolph benefited from the absence of his Canadian friend Jeremy Wotherspoon, who slipped after just a few strides of Monday's opening run, to win.

SHOCK VICTORY

Montillet's shock victory - the first by a Frenchwoman in the Olympic downhill - provided one of the most heart-warming stories of the Games.

Starting early, she was just too fast for the Austrian favourites that followed her. Italy's Isolde Kostner, a bronze medallist in 1994, picked up the silver with Austria's Renate Goetschl forced to settle for bronze.

Cavagnoud, the super-G world champion, was killed in a training accident and Montillet had played "maman" (mummy) to her younger team mates in their grief.

"Nobody expected it (victory), not even myself," she said. "I skied with my heart.

"I was thinking about her a lot. I am sure that from where she is she will feel proud of me."

"This is great for the girls after all they've been through, especially for Carole, who was magnificent," French ski team director Gerard Rougier said.

American Picabo Street, the former world champion making her last Olympic appearance, finished 16th before an excited home crowd and then announced her retirement.

"I am officially done with all ski racing, competitions, everything," the American told a news conference.

SKATING CONTROVERSY

Figure skating has provided controversy at many Winter Games and once again the judges were in the dock after Monday's pairs competition when the Canadian pair seemed clearly to outperform their Russian rivals.

After watching Sale, his sweetheart on and off the ice, break down in tears at the medals ceremony, Pelletier said he was so disillusioned with the sport he might retire and the top Canadian official at the Games insisted the judges were wrong.

Faced with a barrage of criticism - many Canadian newspapers claimed their skaters had been robbed - the International Skating Union ordered an inquiry.

"Following the reaction of the public and the media to the results of the pairs event at the Salt Lake Ice Center last night, and to respect public opinion, the ISU is doing an internal assessment to monitor if the ISU rules and procedures have been respected," it said in a statement.

In the men's moguls, Lahtela, the silver medallist at the 1998 Nagano Games, produced two quadruple jumps and the fastest time to beat teenager Travis Mayer of the United States into second place.

The U.S. swept the three medals at the men's halfpipe on Monday. They also won gold in the women's halfpipe and silver in the women's moguls.

Estonian teams took part in three Winter Olympics before their country was annexed into the Soviet Union in 1940 and they have been at three Games since independence in 1991 -- all without a single medal success until today.

"It makes me very proud," said winner Andru Veerpalu, who won Estonia's first world championship gold in the 30 km classical last year in Lahti.

"This is a great, great success for Estonia." Compatriot Jaak Mae took the bronze.

19:13 02-12-02

Olympics-'Mother' Montillet wins downhill gold

By Robert Woodward

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Carole Montillet, the "mother" of France's ski team since the death of Regine Cavagnoud in October, paid the perfect tribute to her friend by winning the downhill at the Winter Olympics on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old had won only one super-G in a decade on the circuit but she threw caution to the winds and "raced for Regine" down the Wildflower piste.

On the fourth day of the 17-day Games, the first major controversy of the Games forced the governing body of figure skating to launch an inquiry into a controversial Russian victory in the pairs.

Judges gave Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze the gold but spectators in the Olympic Ice Centre on Monday - and practically every commentator - believed the Canadian pair of Jamie Sale and David Pelletier had done enough to win.

Estonia won their first medals in the Winter Olympics in the 15-km classical cross-country race and Finn Janne Lahtela stopped an American takeover of the younger Olympic disciplines by winning the men's freestyle moguls.

But the host country won gold in the men's 500 metres speed skating when Casey FitzRandolph benefited from the absence of his Canadian friend Jeremy Wotherspoon, who slipped after just a few strides of Monday's opening run, to win.

SHOCK VICTORY

Montillet's shock victory - the first by a Frenchwoman in the Olympic downhill - provided one of the most heart-warming stories of the Games.

Starting early, she was just too fast for the Austrian favourites that followed her. Italy's Isolde Kostner, a bronze medallist in 1994, picked up the silver with Austria's Renate Goetschl forced to settle for bronze.

Cavagnoud, the super-G world champion, was killed in a training accident and Montillet had played "maman" (mummy) to her younger team mates in their grief.

"Nobody expected it (victory), not even myself," she said. "I skied with my heart.

"I was thinking about her a lot. I am sure that from where she is she will feel proud of me."

"This is great for the girls after all they've been through, especially for Carole, who was magnificent," French ski team director Gerard Rougier said.

American Picabo Street, the former world champion making her last Olympic appearance, finished 16th before an excited home crowd and then announced her retirement.

"I am officially done with all ski racing, competitions, everything," the American told a news conference.

SKATING CONTROVERSY

Figure skating has provided controversy at many Winter Games and once again the judges were in the dock after Monday's pairs competition when the Canadian pair seemed clearly to outperform their Russian rivals.

After watching Sale, his sweetheart on and off the ice, break down in tears at the medals ceremony, Pelletier said he was so disillusioned with the sport he might retire and the top Canadian official at the Games insisted the judges were wrong.

Faced with a barrage of criticism - many Canadian newspapers claimed their skaters had been robbed - the International Skating Union ordered an inquiry.

"Following the reaction of the public and the media to the results of the pairs event at the Salt Lake Ice Center last night, and to respect public opinion, the ISU is doing an internal assessment to monitor if the ISU rules and procedures have been respected," it said in a statement.

In the men's moguls, Lahtela, the silver medallist at the 1998 Nagano Games, produced two quadruple jumps and the fastest time to beat teenager Travis Mayer of the United States into second place.

The U.S. swept the three medals at the men's halfpipe on Monday. They also won gold in the women's halfpipe and silver in the women's moguls.

Estonian teams took part in three Winter Olympics before their country was annexed into the Soviet Union in 1940 and they have been at three Games since independence in 1991 -- all without a single medal success until today.

"It makes me very proud," said winner Andru Veerpalu, who won Estonia's first world championship gold in the 30 km classical last year in Lahti.

"This is a great, great success for Estonia." Compatriot Jaak Mae took the bronze.

19:13 02-12-02

Olympics-Freestyle skiing-Silver's just the ticket for Mayer

By Judith Crosson

DEER VALLEY, Utah, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Moguls freestyle skier Travis Mayer was so sure he wouldn't be at the Salt Lake City Olympics that he told his family and friends months ago not to bother buying tickets.

They shouldn't have listened to him. He made the team on New Year's Eve and on Tuesday performed two complex jumps in a performance impressive enough to win the silver behind Finn Janne Lahtela.

His family and friends had to scramble for tickets.

"They paid through the nose. That's how they got them," Mayer told reporters.

Mayer grew up in western New York State where snow is an industry, learning to ski on a 600-foot hill.

But towards the end of elementary school he realised he needed bigger hills, or maybe mountains, and moved out west to train in Colorado.

At his first World Cup skiing competition in December in France Mayer, who hopes to be a lawyer some day, finished 27th.

"I barely qualified for the World Cup. When I went to Steamboat Springs I threw caution to the wind." He duly finished second.

He then won the Gold Cup moguls competition in Deer Valley on New Year's Eve to earn an automatic spot with the U.S. team.

Mayer, who turns 20 two days before the end of the Games, was smart enough to listen to his coach, Jeff Wintersteen. "He let me know I was contender, not just somebody filling a spot," he said.

Mayer's strategy on Tuesday could be a recipe for life. "There are a lot of really difficult parts in this course...but I focused on getting a really fluid run. I just came out and really tried to enjoy myself."

Asked why he was smiling just before his run, he recalled: "There's no place on earth I would rather be."

20:05 02-12-02

Olympics-Freestyle skiing-Silver's just the ticket for Mayer

By Judith Crosson

DEER VALLEY, Utah, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Moguls freestyle skier Travis Mayer was so sure he wouldn't be at the Salt Lake City Olympics that he told his family and friends months ago not to bother buying tickets.

They shouldn't have listened to him. He made the team on New Year's Eve and on Tuesday performed two complex jumps in a performance impressive enough to win the silver behind Finn Janne Lahtela.

His family and friends had to scramble for tickets.

"They paid through the nose. That's how they got them," Mayer told reporters.

Mayer grew up in western New York State where snow is an industry, learning to ski on a 600-foot hill.

But towards the end of elementary school he realised he needed bigger hills, or maybe mountains, and moved out west to train in Colorado.

At his first World Cup skiing competition in December in France Mayer, who hopes to be a lawyer some day, finished 27th.

"I barely qualified for the World Cup. When I went to Steamboat Springs I threw caution to the wind." He duly finished second.

He then won the Gold Cup moguls competition in Deer Valley on New Year's Eve to earn an automatic spot with the U.S. team.

Mayer, who turns 20 two days before the end of the Games, was smart enough to listen to his coach, Jeff Wintersteen. "He let me know I was contender, not just somebody filling a spot," he said.

Mayer's strategy on Tuesday could be a recipe for life. "There are a lot of really difficult parts in this course...but I focused on getting a really fluid run. I just came out and really tried to enjoy myself."

Asked why he was smiling just before his run, he recalled: "There's no place on earth I would rather be."

20:05 02-12-02

Olympics-Medals table on the fifth day of competition

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Medals table on the fifth day of competition at the Winter Olympics on Tuesday

Gold Silver Bronze Total

1. U.S. 3 4 2 9

2. Norway 3 3 0 6

3. Germany 2 3 1 6

4- Finland 2 1 0 3

4- Italy 2 1 0 3

6. Russia 1 2 2 5

7. Austria 1 1 5 7

8. France 1 1 1 3

9. Netherlands 1 1 0 2

10- Estonia 1 0 1 2

10- Switzerland 1 0 1 2

12. Spain 1 0 0 1

13- Canada 0 1 1 2

13- Japan 0 1 1 2

15- China 0 0 1 1

15- Czech Republic 0 0 1 1

15- Poland 0 0 1 1

15- Sweden 0 0 1 1

17:47 02-12-02

Olympics-Figure skating-Pairs results

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Results of the Olympic figure skating pairs competition on Monday

1. Yelena Berezhnaya, Anton Sikharulidze (Russia) 1.5 points

(short programme 0.5, free programme 1.0)

2. Jamie Sale, David Pelletier (Canada) 3.0

(1.0, 2.0)

3. Xue Shen, Hongbo Zhao (China) 4.5

(1.5, 3.0)

4. Tatiana Totmianina, Maxim Marinin (Russia) 6.0

(2.0, 4.0)

5. Kyoko Ina, John Zimmerman (U.S.) 7.5

(2.5, 5.0)

6. Maria Petrova, Alexei Tikhonov (Russia) 9.0

(3.0, 6.0)

7. Dorota Zagorska, Mariusz Siudek (Poland) 11.0

(4.0, 7.0)

8. Katerina Berankova, Otto Dlabola (Czech 11.5

Republic)

(3.5, 8.0)

9. Qing Pang, Jian Tong (China) 14.0

(5.0, 9.0)

10. Jacinthe Lariviere, Lenny Faustino (Canada) 16.5

(6.5, 10.0)

11. Dan Zhang, Hao Zhang (China) 16.5

(4.5, 12.0)

12. Anabelle Langlois, Patrice Archetto (Canada) 18.0

(7.0, 11.0)

13. Tiffany Scott, Philip Dulebohn (U.S.) 18.5

(5.5, 13.0)

14. Mariana Kautz, Norman Jeschke (Germany) 21.0

(6.0, 15.0)

15. Aliona Savchenko, Stanislav Morozov (Ukraine) 22.0

(8.0, 14.0)

16. Tatiana Chuvaeva, Dmitri Palamarchuk (Ukraine)23.5

(7.5, 16.0)

17. Olga Bestandigova, Jozef Bestandig (Slovakia) 25.5

(8.5, 17.0)

18. Natalia Ponomareva, Evgeni Sviridov 27.0

(Uzbekistan)

(9.0, 18.0)

19. Michela Cobisi, Ruben de Pra (Italy) 28.5

(9.5, 19.0)

20. Maria Krasiltseva, Artem Znachkov (Armenia) 30.0

(10.0, 20.0)

23:26 02-11-02

Olympics-Figure skating-Pairs results

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Results of the Olympic figure skating pairs competition on Monday

1. Yelena Berezhnaya, Anton Sikharulidze (Russia) 1.5 points

(short programme 0.5, free programme 1.0)

2. Jamie Sale, David Pelletier (Canada) 3.0

(1.0, 2.0)

3. Xue Shen, Hongbo Zhao (China) 4.5

(1.5, 3.0)

4. Tatiana Totmianina, Maxim Marinin (Russia) 6.0

(2.0, 4.0)

5. Kyoko Ina, John Zimmerman (U.S.) 7.5

(2.5, 5.0)

6. Maria Petrova, Alexei Tikhonov (Russia) 9.0

(3.0, 6.0)

7. Dorota Zagorska, Mariusz Siudek (Poland) 11.0

(4.0, 7.0)

8. Katerina Berankova, Otto Dlabola (Czech 11.5

Republic)

(3.5, 8.0)

9. Qing Pang, Jian Tong (China) 14.0

(5.0, 9.0)

10. Jacinthe Lariviere, Lenny Faustino (Canada) 16.5

(6.5, 10.0)

11. Dan Zhang, Hao Zhang (China) 16.5

(4.5, 12.0)

12. Anabelle Langlois, Patrice Archetto (Canada) 18.0

(7.0, 11.0)

13. Tiffany Scott, Philip Dulebohn (U.S.) 18.5

(5.5, 13.0)

14. Mariana Kautz, Norman Jeschke (Germany) 21.0

(6.0, 15.0)

15. Aliona Savchenko, Stanislav Morozov (Ukraine) 22.0

(8.0, 14.0)

16. Tatiana Chuvaeva, Dmitri Palamarchuk (Ukraine)23.5

(7.5, 16.0)

17. Olga Bestandigova, Jozef Bestandig (Slovakia) 25.5

(8.5, 17.0)

18. Natalia Ponomareva, Evgeni Sviridov 27.0

(Uzbekistan)

(9.0, 18.0)

19. Michela Cobisi, Ruben de Pra (Italy) 28.5

(9.5, 19.0)

20. Maria Krasiltseva, Artem Znachkov (Armenia) 30.0

(10.0, 20.0)

23:26 02-11-02

Olympics-Figure skating-Pairs results

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Results of the Olympic figure skating pairs competition on Monday

1. Yelena Berezhnaya, Anton Sikharulidze (Russia) 1.5 points

(short programme 0.5, free programme 1.0)

2. Jamie Sale, David Pelletier (Canada) 3.0

(1.0, 2.0)

3. Xue Shen, Hongbo Zhao (China) 4.5

(1.5, 3.0)

4. Tatiana Totmianina, Maxim Marinin (Russia) 6.0

(2.0, 4.0)

5. Kyoko Ina, John Zimmerman (U.S.) 7.5

(2.5, 5.0)

6. Maria Petrova, Alexei Tikhonov (Russia) 9.0

(3.0, 6.0)

7. Dorota Zagorska, Mariusz Siudek (Poland) 11.0

(4.0, 7.0)

8. Katerina Berankova, Otto Dlabola (Czech 11.5

Republic)

(3.5, 8.0)

9. Qing Pang, Jian Tong (China) 14.0

(5.0, 9.0)

10. Jacinthe Lariviere, Lenny Faustino (Canada) 16.5

(6.5, 10.0)

11. Dan Zhang, Hao Zhang (China) 16.5

(4.5, 12.0)

12. Anabelle Langlois, Patrice Archetto (Canada) 18.0

(7.0, 11.0)

13. Tiffany Scott, Philip Dulebohn (U.S.) 18.5

(5.5, 13.0)

14. Mariana Kautz, Norman Jeschke (Germany) 21.0

(6.0, 15.0)

15. Aliona Savchenko, Stanislav Morozov (Ukraine) 22.0

(8.0, 14.0)

16. Tatiana Chuvaeva, Dmitri Palamarchuk (Ukraine)23.5

(7.5, 16.0)

17. Olga Bestandigova, Jozef Bestandig (Slovakia) 25.5

(8.5, 17.0)

18. Natalia Ponomareva, Evgeni Sviridov 27.0

(Uzbekistan)

(9.0, 18.0)

19. Michela Cobisi, Ruben de Pra (Italy) 28.5

(9.5, 19.0)

20. Maria Krasiltseva, Artem Znachkov (Armenia) 30.0

(10.0, 20.0)

23:26 02-11-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Italy's Ghedina quits Games

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Italian Alpine skier Kristian Ghedina is quitting the Winter Games.

The downhiller, who is on record as disliking the Olympics where he has never shone, said on Monday he did not feel in shape to win medals in the upcoming super-G or combined.

He has asked his coaches for a break to focus on the World Cup final competitions.

The Italian said: "The request has caused me personal suffering and I thank my coaches and colleagues here for supporting my decision."

Ghedina is the most successful Italian downhill skier in World Cup history, but finished only 35th in the men's Olympic downhill on Sunday.

The 32-year-old placed sixth in the Olympic combined in 1992 and 1994 and in the downhill in 1998. Otherwise he has not broken into the top 10 finishers.

He admitted last week he was not a lover of the Games, saying: "I prefer to have a routine. Here you have all the controls, checking passes. You go forward and more checks and so on. I prefer the World Cup."

22:21 02-11-02

Olympics-Snowboarding-Attitude is all in Games' outlaw sport

By Robert Woodward

PARK CITY, Utah, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Attitude failed to win the halfpipe Olympic gold on Monday after four hours of "awesome" action in the outlaw sport of the Winter Olympics.

Ross Powers claimed the gold in his first run of the final to head an American clean sweep of the medals, their first at the Winter Games since 1956.

Powers is a clean-cut 23-year-old who wanted to share his moment of glory with his family, and amplitude (height off the jump) was what won him the gold.

But silver medallist Danny Kass - a spray-painting party animal from New Jersey - is the fans' choice and his attitude of anti-establishment cool is the future of the sport.

Kass is 19 and, unlike 99 percent of the competitors at the Games, he plugs into youth culture - the culture where you walk only when your skateboard is being repainted, baggy trousers are the uniform and everything is "rad" (radical).

The Olympic ideal of citius, altius, fortius (swifter, higher, stronger) is not Kass's inspiration - he just likes hanging out with his friends, designing the artwork for his boards and turning up the music until it hurts.

Around 16,000 fans turned up for the halfpipe and the event had the feel of a rock concert - rock and hip-hop pumped out incessantly to inspire the snowboarders. Every run was greeted with fist-pumping and wild cheering and "awesome" was the word on every teenager's lips.

Finland's Heikki Sorsa, sporting a Mohawk haircut, was one of the stars of the show. A junior world champion, he led after the qualifying but could not repeat his form in the final.

"To have fun, that's all" was how how he summed up his aim for the day.

Other winter sports, such as luge and curling, rarely attract attention outside the Winter Olympics and even Alpine skiing struggles to make waves outside northern Europe. To youngsters, snowboarding is cool and not for geeks.

As any social skier will tell you, snowboarders are taking over the slopes and the sport attracts a television viewing public that advertisers adore - teenagers who love labels and will spend good money to buy into trends.

Snowboarding is also a key element of the "extreme sports" culture - Kass was the "X Games" superpipe champion last year - which many believe is the next big thing in televised sport.

Extreme sports are individualistic, appealing to kids who have never bought into the team ethic. Many snowboarders were unhappy at having to qualify for the Olympics and feel more allegiance to each other and their sponsors than to any national body.

"Snowboarders are not nationalistic, they hang with each other, they party with each other," as the announcer at Park City put it.

The American clean sweep is bound to give the sport a huge boost in the country where it began, and what is big in America, very often becomes big everywhere else in the world.

"I hope people realise snowboarding is a great sport and get into it and start backing it," said Kass before heading off to party with the "crew" that follow him to every competition.

"Tonight's not over yet - I'll probably spray paint something," he added.

20:08 02-11-02

Olympics-Biggest Winter Games get bigger with 78 nations

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 11 (Reuters) - The biggest Winter Olympics in history got a bit bigger on Monday with the addition of an athlete from Costa Rica, which increased the number of participating nations to 78.

Cross-country skier Arturo Kinch is entered in the sprint and 10 km freestyle pursuit events, the Olympic Village said in a statement.

After several team size changes during the Games first four days, the total number of athletes is 2,527.

19:56 02-11-02