How Torino became Turin

TURIN, Italy – The head of the Olympic organizing committee weighed in Monday on the debate over the name of the host city.

Torino is the Italian name of the city, Turin the common English version. NBC calls it Torino, while the Associated Press and most English-language media use Turin.

Valentino Castellani, chief of the TOROC organizing committee, said it was decided years ago with NBC to “give an Italian identity” to the games.

“We chose to give a strong visibility to the Italian word – the Torino Games,” he said.

But Castellani said he doesn’t mind if the media use the English version.

“It’s a game,” he said. “We are not offended if you call us Turin. But the brand of the games is Torino 2006.”

Castellani said as a child he referred to New York as “Nuovo York.”

“Now we all say New York,” he said. “I would like that after these games people remember Turin as Torino.”

‘I promise …’

Italian skier Giorgio Rocca will take the Athletes’ Oath during the opening ceremony at the Winter Olympics.

Rocca, who won five straight men’s slaloms this year and is a favorite to win a gold medal in Turin, will say:

“In the name of all competitors I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams.”

On his way

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Bret Hedican is headed here.

The 35-year-old from St. Paul, Minn., will join the U.S. hockey team to replace Aaron Miller, out with a back injury.

Miller, a member of the Los Angeles Kings, played on the American team that won silver at the 2002 Olympics.

Lottery vote

The Italian parliament is expected to pass a measure that includes a scratch-card lottery and is aimed at helping the country cover the financing of the games.

The government drew up the measure to help cover a $96.5 million budget shortfall for the Turin Games. The measures should produce $24.1 million in revenue.

Games on TV

The Turin Games will be seen in more countries than ever before.

The International Olympic Committee said the Winter Games will be seen on television in more than 200 countriess. Four years ago, 160 countries watched on TV.