Turin wins over Sion in bid for 2006 Olympics

The Swiss town of Sion lost to its Italian rival Turin in the bid for host town of the Winter Olympics in 2006. The International Olympic Committee announced the selection of Turin in the South Korean capital Seoul on Saturday.

The Swiss town of Sion lost to its Italian rival Turin in the bid for host town of the Winter Olympics in 2006. The International Olympic Committee announced the selection of Turin in the South Korean capital Seoul on Saturday.

Organisers, supporters and thousands of people who had been partying in Sion in anticipation of the decision fell silent as Juan Antonio Samaranch, President of the IOC, announced the winner.

It was the third time that Sion failed in its bid for the games.

Swiss Sports Minister Adolf Ogi, who was also the president of Sion’s candidature committee, expressed disappointment about the IOC decision.

“I am very disappointed and I feel sorry for all the people who have worked for years and contributed so much to Sion’s Olympic efforts,” Ogi said.

He said he thought Sion would have deserved to be named host town for the Olympics but added that Switzerland would now have to find a new inspiring “vision” for the future.

Marco Blatter, a leading member of the Swiss Olympic movement, also did not hide his disappointment and said the IOC choice was hard to accept.

“However, we competed like sportsmen and we have to accept defeat like sportsmen,” Blatter commented.