This being my first Olympics, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I did, however, have vague Disney World-esque notions of commercialism and entertainment all wrapped up into a perfect little package, a spectacle digestible no matter what your native tongue. Very little of this can be found of the streets of Torino itself. The City Center is adorned with red "Passion Lives Here" banners and the occasional strip of giant torches, but otherwise no gaudy displays jump out at you. That is, until you enter the Sponsor Village, located in the Piazza Solferino.
The Sponsor Village was exactly what I had been waiting for. Giant tents screaming corporate logos - FIAT, Coca-Cola, Samsung - plus the Atrium 2006, which is devoted to the promotion of the games, Torino and Piemonte. In fact, it's somewhat reminiscent of Epcot, but with more advertising and less rides.
The Coca-Cola area, taking up a two floor building and several virtual simulator machines outside, appears to be the biggest in the Sponsor Village. You are badgered with the logo everywhere you turn, but once you look beyond the advertisements, there are some highlights. Children (and adults for that matter) can try out a new video game at two kiosks or pose for a picture in Coke-themed bobsleds. (If bobsledding isn't your thing, there's another photo opportunity on the second floor, where you can pose with a replica of the Olympic torch). The first floor holds all of the Coke Olympic memorabilia you can imagine, starting from the beverage's first Olympic appearance at the 1928 games, when 1,000 cases accompanied the U.S. team to Amsterdam.
The most entertaining activity is the hockey "Speed Shot." Visitors are challenged to shoot a hockey puck at speeds that rival the Olympic champions (which, apparently, is 160 kmph). If your shot exceeds this speed, then your name and information will be taken down for the chance to win event tickets. The fastest man and woman each win a pair of tickets. I topped out at 34 kmph; a little boy who appeared to be both 7 years-old and to have never held a hockey stick in his life shot 29 kmph. I blame soreness from trekking my suitcase around the city, obviously, for my poor performance.
The FIAT area, as one would expect, houses several models of theme-decorated cars, plus loads of memorabilia (like uniforms, costumes, skis and snowboards) from past Olympics. The main draws, however, seemed to be the foosball tables that attracted Italian teens, and the giant screens showing the Italy-Germany curling match (Italy won, much to the crowd's delight).
Samsung lets you play with all the latest technology - which were mostly cell phone/digital camera/mp3 player combinations. Tech buffs would have understood all of the different specs, but I understood the only necessary information displayed with most of the products - "availability: Korea." Looks like we'll have to wait a bit for these new all-in-one toys.
I was sort of expecting free stuff at the Sponsor Village, which wasn't abundant, but I did eventually find in the best forms possible: chocolate and wine. One booth in between the Coca-Cola building and the Lancia Ice Bar (before entering you don an Eskimo-hooded poncho) was holding a Gianduja tasting. Gianduja is the hazelnut-flavored chocolate native to Torino, and was available here in 11 different flavors, like
bianca (white) and
caramello (no translation needed); I tried
menta (mint), which was, of course, delicious. As for the wine, that was courtesy of GE, who was hosting a concert at 7 p.m. next to the skating rink.
The skating rink is located in the center of the Village. If ice skates were at the top of your packing list, entrance to the rink is free. Otherwise, you can rent skates for 3.50 euros per hour. Although the rink was closed when I first arrived (around 6 p.m.), it re-opens at 7 p.m. and you can skate until midnight.
Unfortunately, the area set up for visitors to try their hand at curling wasn't operation. Translation: I'll be back.
--
Shauna Maher
