Doping laws, transport dominate Olympic concerns during final inspection in Torino

Doping laws, transport dominate Olympic concerns during final inspection in Torino{mosimage}TURIN, Italy — A top Olympic official warned Italy on Wednesday that any mistakes would mean ”catastrophe” for the Winter Games, with a shortage of accommodations, transport headaches and lagging construction on Turin’s airport causing concern.

Also still unresolved ahead of the Feb. 10-26 Games is a conflict between International Olympic Committee rules calling for disqualification over doping and Italy’s tough criminal sanctions.

The IOC wrapped up its final, full-scale visit of the Turin city and Alpine mountain sites.

”In terms of the seven years it takes to work on hosting the games, the opening ceremony is now only a moment away,” said Jean-Claude Killy, a former Olympic ski champion and current head of the IOC coordination commission.

”The IOC is confident that one final effort will lead to wonderfully successful games,” said Killy, in a nudge of Italian organizers.

But any more delays or mistakes ”would be a catastrophe,” Killy warned.

Major Italian events are often marked by work completed at the very last minute.

Organizing committee chief Valentino Castellani seemed to be reflecting that characteristic when he said: ”The work will end the evening of Feb. 9.”

”It’s like when you go to a party and you make that last adjustment to your tie just before you leave home,” Castellani said.

Several officials acknowledged that work to expand the Turin airport is behind schedule. A meeting with construction companies is scheduled for Dec. 13.

”We are monitoring the situation very closely,” Killy said.

Construction cranes dot the skyline of downtown Turin, and work is still being completed around the Alpine hub of Sestriere.

”We will not take any vacation over Christmas and New Year’s,” Castellani said of the push to meet deadlines.

Castellani warned about a shortage in accommodations, and suggested some fans make day trips from Milan.

”For sure there is not enough space for everyone in Turin,” he said.

Snow on the roads delayed a media tour of Alpine venues by 30 minutes.

City congestion combined with narrow mountain roads could make travel to competition sites a challenge, Castellani suggested.

”The plan is to bring most fans by train to the mountains. If all the fans use the highway there will be a crisis. Take the train,” Castellani said.

Killy said the conflict over how to punish doping would be resolved by the end of next week.

Italian law includes criminal sanctions for doping violations while the IOC only calls for disqualification for any doping offense, with no legal penalties.

Killy recalled the anguish he felt when he expelled the Festina team for doping infractions as director of the 1998 Tour de France.

”That was a very difficult situation because they were my friends,” Killy said. ”So no one can say anything about my (anti-doping) position. The law is the law.”

Added fellow IOC executive Gilbert Felli: ”There will be a solution.”

Progress could come this weekend when IOC president Jacques Rogge sees government supervisor Mario Pescante at a European Olympic meeting in Dublin this weekend.

Killy said security was only briefly discussed in a meeting with the Turin police chief.

While no more coordination commission meetings will take place, smaller groups from the IOC will continue to visit Turin.

Rogge will meet with organizers, tour venues and observe the first day of a speedskating test event on Dec. 9.

Associated Press