2006 Winter Olympics in Turin

Renate Groenewold of the Netherlands close in on a silver medal in speedskating in the women’s 3,000-meter race.  (Maurizio Brambatti / EPA)

107615.SP.0211.OLY4.GMF-Jennifer Heil of Canada takes the Gold Medal in Freestyle Skiing Ladies Moguls Finals in 2006 Winter Olympics at Sauze d’Oulx Jouvenceaux Feb. 11, 2006. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)  (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

The Italian animation team, which tries to rally the crowds during competitions, doesn’t appear to have an awful lot of fans around to rally at the freestyle skiing moguls competition.  (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

South Korea’s Ho-Suk Lee, who a silver medal, leads a pack of speedskaters during the 1,500-meter short track race.  (Andrew Vaughan / Associated Press)

Aika Klein of Germany crashes into the boards during a speedskating heat in the women’s 500-meter event.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

Canada goalie Charline Labonte, left, stops Russia’s Ekaterina Smolentseva during the first period.  (Ryan Remiorz / Associated Press)

Maritta Becker is sent flying after a check by Caitlin Cahow of the U.S.  (Vladimir Rys Bongarts / Getty Images)

Canada’s Jennifer Heil, center, celebrates her gold medal in freestyle moguls with silver medalist Kari Traa of Norway, left, and bronze medalist Sandra Laoura of France.  (Elsa / Getty Images)

Chad Hedrick of Spring, Texas, is fired up when he sees his time is the fastest in the 5,000 meters.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

Gold medalist US Speedskater Chad Hedricks, center is flanked by silver medalist Netherland’s Sven Kramer, left and bronze medalist Italian Enrico Fabris as they stand on the podium after the men’s 5,000m long-track speedskating at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

Michelle Kwan addresses reporters after her first practice session, when she couldn’t complete any of her jumps.  (Alan Hagman / LAT)

US Speed Skater Chad Hedrick skates around the oval en route to winning the gold medal in the men’s 5000 meter speedskating at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

It isn’t hard to figure out where Canada’s Jennifer Heil finished in the women’s freestyle moguls event. Yes, she won the gold medal.  (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

Jillian Vogtli gets sideways over the last jump in the women’s freestyle moguls finals. She finished 11th.  (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

Shaun White, left, and U.S. teammate Danny Kass pose after winning gold and silver medals, respectively, in halfpipe.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

WILL PEOPLE COME? Only 560,000 of roughly 1 million tickets have been sold for the Winter Games in Turin, Italy.  (Mauro Pilone / AP)

Michelle Roark of the United States keeps her form during qualifying for the finals of the freestyle moguls competition. She finished fourth in qualifying, but 18th in the final.  (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

107615.SP.0211.OLY10.GMF-USA Michelle Roark reacts to the corwd after completing her run in Freestyle Skiing Ladies Moguls Finals in 2006 Winter Olympics at Sauze d’Oulx Jouvenceaux Feb. 11, 2006. She finished in 18th place.(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)  (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

A woman makes her way across a street in Turin.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

A statue and the Palazzo Madama stand in silhouette against the setting sun in Turin, Italy.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

The moon rises over a church in Turin.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

A worshiper lights a candle at the Baroque Corpus Domini church in Turin, Italy.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

The modern, angular Atrium Torino on Piazza Solferino was part of the construction boom in advance of the Turin Winter Olympics of 2006.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

Like other venues on Turin’s Piazza San Carlo, the Caffè San Carlo has an old-world sensibility.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

Fresh produce and a colorful ambience are on offer at Turin’s Porta Palazzo market.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

A beautiful day brings a crowd to the Palazzo Madama in Turin.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

A pedestrian and a stray cat are dwarfed by the covered arcades in Turin.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

The moon rises over the ancient Porta Palatina in Turin, Italy.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

Antoine Deneriaz of France gets airborne on his way to a gold medal in the men’s downhill.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Tony Benshoof of the U.S. whizzes by fans during the luge competition where he finished fourth.  (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

Jonathan Myles of the U.S. luge team gives fans an up-close view as his zooms by.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Danny Kass, who won a silver medal, gets some air during the snowboard halfpipe competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Switzerland’s Therry Brunner and his shadow glide down a ridge during the snowboard halfpipe qualifying round.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Shaun White flies skyward on his way to winning the gold medal in the snowboard halfpipe competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Danny Kass soars through the air during the snowboard halfpipe competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Shannon Bahrke of the U.S. is heels over head during the women’s freestyle moguls finals. Bahrke finished 10th.  (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

Austria’s Margarita Marbler loses her balance after the last jump in the freestyle skiing women’s mogul competition. She finished 17th.  (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

Julie Chu of the United States is at a distinct disadvantage while Switzerland’s Stefanie Marty goes for the puck in the U.S. team’s 6-0 opening-game victory in women’s hockey.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

There was a lot of celebrating for the U.S. women’s hockey team during a 6-0 victory over Switzerland.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

Tricia Dunn Luoma of the United States tries to get the puck past Swiss goaltender Patricia Elsmore-Sauther during the Americans’ 6-0 victory.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

The hometown fans are delighted that Enrico Fabris of Italy won a bronze medal in the 5,000 meters.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

Chad Hedrick shows good form during his 5,000-meter speedskating effort. Hedrick won the first gold medal for the U.S.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)