The Winter Olympics has never achieved the truly global event status its Summer cousin has (well global excluding the US where the Superbowl is still the most-watched event), but I think that's actually what makes it more athletic, less showy. Watching the Winter Games feels more like watching a sports event, while the Summer Games sometimes feel more like a week-long ad of Benetton Sports. Although, thanks to the whole judging controversy at Salt Lake 2002, more people know about the event.

This year, it's going to be held in Italy. Torino 2006 starts this Saturday, 11 February. Since December all the major media have been mocking the city's preparation on the games since even last week, only 30% of the tickets have been sold. This lower-than-expected public response plus also lower-than-expected government grants has led the city to find other sources of funding including a lottery. Apparently, if it doesn't involve 22 grown men, 2 goals, and a ball coverd with a 2-color-block of pentagrams, Italians aren't really into it.

Well, those are the minus points which they [TOROC: Torino Olympic Committee] totally balanced off with the plus points from design! Hey, they're Italians, this is what they're born to do! From citywide modernization that includes a major revamping of an old train station to constructions of sleek new easy-on-the-eyes facilities to the über cool graphic designs to the ultra cute mascots, this could be the best-looking Olympic Games ever!

The pictograms for the sports events are the first ever to not be based on 2-dimensional images. They are instead art-deco-inspired, multi-layered silhouettes of an athlete with block colors background, very much reminiscent of those vintage travel posters. The ones that are going to be framed in my room are definitely the rouge dynamic Figure Skating girl and cool blue Biathlon guy. Not to forget the Torino 2006 logo, a slanted, slightly right-twisted modern imagery of Turin's landmark, la « Mole Antonelliana ».

What can I say about the Portuguese-by-design mascots Neve, which means snow, and Gliz, meaning ice? They are totally adorable without being sickeningly cute. The slim, clean lines are very stylish while the color use and emotion that they use is just so sweet (but remember, not saccharine). There's also a third mascot, Aster, which is the mascot for the Paralympic Winter Games. Just as cute as the iceboy (Gliz) & snowgirl (Neve) and just as cool. Do not miss the short presentation video of Neve & Gliz (Broadband - 56k) on the official website.

Also on the film section, make sure you check out all the tv ads of the Games. They are absolutely works of art. My favorite is the one titled Celebrate Humanity: Opponent (Broadband - 56k).

All images are registered trademarks of the 2006 Torino Olympic Committee.