The Italian government has decided to help the organisers of the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics cover a funding gap of 160 million euro.
Although Italian law prohibits the government from directly funding the games, Prime Minister Berlusconi signed an agreement to give 130 million euro to the games through the state-owned development agency Sviluppo Italia. He was presented with the Olympic torch in Rome after signing the agreement.
On another positive note, after a visit to Turin last Thursday, the International Olympic Committee stated that they were satisfied with the organisation for the 2006 games. They announced that the city was making great progress with venue construction, as well as with infrastructure and city beautification projects.
Athletes will begin arriving in Turin in less than eight months’ time.
