The 2006 cross-country events were held at Pragelato a small commune in Torino Province, and Piemonte Region. The events were conducted at a Nordic center specifically built for the Torino Olympics. The program was changed once again, although it was kept at 12 events, six for men and women. Both men and women added a team sprint event, which consisted of teams of two skiers, skiing six legs. In theory a skier could ski between three to six legs, but in reality, all teams alternated legs, with each sprinter skiing three legs. The event consists of a semi-final round advancing teams to a final of 10 teams. To make room on the schedule for another event and more skiers in the field, the middle-distance individual events for men and women, 30 km and 15 km respectively, were eliminated from the program. The men’s 30 km had been on the Olympic Program since 1956.
Unlike many other Winter Olympics, no single skier dominated the cross-country events. In fact, 10 different skiers won two Olympic medals, but nobody won three. Only two skiers won two golds, Giorgio Di Centa and Björn Lind, Lind in the two sprint races.
Event |
Status |
Date |
Participants |
NOCs |
Sprint (Freestyle), Men |
Olympic |
22 February 2006 |
80 |
34 |
15 kilometres (Classical), Men |
Olympic |
17 February 2006 |
99 |
46 |
50 kilometres (Mass Start, Freestyle), Men |
Olympic |
26 February 2006 |
79 |
31 |
30 kilometres Skiathlon, Men |
Olympic |
12 February 2006 |
76 |
27 |
4 × 10 kilometres Relay, Men |
Olympic |
19 February 2006 |
64 |
16 |
Team Sprint (Classical), Men |
Olympic |
14 February 2006 |
48 |
24 |
Sprint (Freestyle), Women |
Olympic |
22 February 2006 |
66 |
28 |
10 kilometres (Classical), Women |
Olympic |
16 February 2006 |
72 |
29 |
30 kilometres (Mass Start, Freestyle), Women |
Olympic |
24 February 2006 |
61 |
22 |
15 kilometres Skiathlon, Women |
Olympic |
12 February 2006 |
67 |
28 |
4 × 5 kilometres Relay, Women |
Olympic |
18 February 2006 |
68 |
17 |
Team Sprint (Classical), Women |
Olympic |
14 February 2006 |
32 |
16 |
|
|
|
307 (183/124)
|
53 (53/34)
|