19/02/2012 Ski Sunday

Hello and welcome to Ski Sunday. We are back in Russia for our second

instalment of ski racing action from the Caucasus mountains above

the city of Sochi. Lastly we saw the men tackling the brand new

Olympic downhill, now it is the women's 10 to do battle on Russian

snow. The ace is a sensational start,

goodness can anyone stop her? She is absolutely shattered. Lindsey

Vonn has done it again. Later in the show, Ed get up close and

personal with the city of Sochi to see how this area of Russia has

changed over the decades. city's infrastructure was woefully

under-equipped. It didn't even have an international airport. On top of

that, the mountains do not have the required venues, and there were

It is women's downhill time, and there is only one name on

everyone's lips, Lindsey Vonn. she is so powerful, unbelievable,

she has got absolutely everything. She is just strong, mentally so

relaxed, focused, unstoppable. we interviewed her on the show, the

thing we took away from it was that the Vonn operation is well-oiled,

there are no weaknesses. You say that, but she is going through a

divorce, not just from her husband, but from her ski coach, her manager.

Thomas Vonn was on the US ski team and basically did everything for

her. That should have derailed the machine, then. Yes, but she is

using skiing as a way of getting away from that. When she is the

racing, that is the only time she is detached from that and she is

happy, and it has actually made her even faster. It has freed her mind

up. She had an all right season last year but she is dominating

this year. Last year she had a problem with concussion before the

World Championships. She skied the training run in a big jacket, and

she was pipped to the overall World Cup title, whereas this year

everything has been going well for her. She could not put a foot wrong,

everything she turns her hand to, she is even doing well in slalom

and giant slalom, which are not the strongest disciplines. Taking all

that into account, can anyone beat her? She has been beaten in Cortina

pied Daniela Merighetti on her home snow. But this is a brand new

course for the girls. When they raced in Vail, it was the first

time the women had raised there. Lindsey Vonn won it comfortably, I

just cannot see anyone beating her. The men's downhill last week threw

up some interesting results, and I would have said that on a new

course we might see another name rise to the top, but with that

record it is unlikely. There is only one woman in this race.

heard it here first, it is going to I really like the track here in

Sochi, it is really challenging, there is a lot of terrain, a lot of

bumps, but it is fun. I had a great time today, I am looking forward to

the race tomorrow and for the Olympics in two years. It is really

challenging, really special, the top section is really steep, and

then lots of gliding. At the moment it is not easy because there's lots

of soft snow on the track, but all in all I like it a lot, it is cool

to be at the place for the next Olympics. It is nice down El,

partly very bumpy, and the snow was a little soft today. I will see how

it is tomorrow. It is a lot of fun, and I think it could be faster, the

course, but it is still fun! Downhill has gone well this year

for me, I feel good on this course, so I'm looking forward to try to

ski my best. I hope I can win tomorrow, but I would be happy with

Well, the Olympics in 2010 in Whistler, the women's cause was

arguably tougher than the men's. First impressions of this women's

course, Rosa Khutor, the start pitch is very, very steep, so it is

going to be demanding as they head towards that first jump, the launch

The first part is very exciting, it is a straight line down, and then a

traverse which is quite difficult. And then we call it the Devil's

you go up hill and just fly over this lip. So far, nobody knows

exactly how it will be skied, and we tried several settings. We had

some tests, it is going to be... It can be a flight through the air, it

can be a very tight turn, it can be anything. Well, just like the men's

course, the women's cause has a lot of radiance, but I imagine there

will be some quite tight turns down Traverse, it is falling away. We

are heading towards the largest cause is a little bit flattered

almost as tough as the men's, if not tougher. You think that this is

a similar situation? No, I rated a little bit easier than Whistler.

But if I look at the first part, the first 30% and the last 30%, it

is quite challenging. Well, we have but the real obstacle here is

Lindsey Vonn. Can anyone beat the American? We will be asking the

same question in two years when the Olympics roll around. Joining Matt

Chilton in the commentary box is Graham, take it away, boys!

weather has closed in on Rosa Khutor, like snow and low cloud has

created challenging conditions for the races. The support teams will

earn their money today. Time now for the first running of the new

States of America. We will see her at the top, coming out of the start

gate, picking her up live further down the course now. She is on to

this rolling serpentine section of the course. Some nice to rein in

here. She has got to try to stay low, stay focused. She is ahead of

half a second quicker. She just let that turn belly out, let it run

wide in a medal. The outside is very steep towards the finish line.

She is in a bit of trouble, drifting wide. The blue paint on

the course. But he stays on her feet, and she takes first position.

She leads the way for the USA. gutsy performance than that

there. Next in the start, the Swiss, she had a really good run last time

out in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the downhill there, where she was

second behind Lindsey Vonn, signalling a welcome return to form.

Again, we will pay cash are lower down the course, because they have

shortened the intervals. We do not see the whole of their round,

unfortunately. The last jump, the solitary jump, down on to this

finishing pitch. Carrying a lot of balance! She is getting on her

belly, she will take out that advertising hoarding, but

thankfully I think she is OK, just frustrated. Classic mistake,

Californian, Stacey Cook, and we have got an American leading the

way at the bottom of the hill. Alice McKennis is leading. Cook

charges out of the start gate. Coming out are the start, three or

four pigs weaving terms to take you down towards the launch pad. --

Biggs weaving. You go slightly uphill on this traverse and then

dropping over down the other side, quite an interesting feeling skiing

over that, heading towards the double spine, the toughest turn on

the course. You can see how Stacey Cook managed to swivel her skis to

get that extra direction on the gate. Very little room to rest and

refuel. She has made a really good start, half a second quicker than

their team-mates. Good speed through the gun, 103.7 kph. She

tucks across this last section, down into the trees. Slightly

improved visibility. How is the time? Still good, 0.26 are now.

Good fight over the tunnel John. Carrying speed into the Serpentine.

Lots of terrain, lots of rollers, big sweeping turns, important to

keep your skis on the snow so you can get some power and acceleration

out of each turn. She has had a pretty solid season. Some of the

younger Americans really doing well off the back of Lindsey Vonn's

incredible success, and Stacey Cook has had respectable form, and she

is their level with the other American. She skied that right-

hander on to this finishing picture very tight, an aggressive line. The

conditions just worsening slightly, a little bit of Bach coming across

the course. She comes out of the mist, has she done enough? Yes, 900

San'a second, the USA first and Arvier, the best of the French in

downhill. A second behind Vonn. Right at the start of the season at

Lake Louise in Canada. She has made a positive start here. Quite a

slightly-built racer, she relies on getting speed out of each turn,

generating speed here. On to the finish pitch now. The weather seems

to have improved slightly. Better visibility for Marchand-Arvier.

Getting bounced around. She can see the finishing line now. And, she

has got the lead. It is really tight between the top racers. She

You will remember she was the racer pushed out of the start, who fell

immediately, in the last Olympics. She had a terrible injury to her

knee which kept her away from the slopes for six months. Back to good

form. Ahead of her team-mate, Marchand-Arvier. You can see those

early intermediate times. Carrying good speed from the tunnel jump.

And, through the serpentine, approaching the final pitch. Look

at the lead she has got now, half a second. She really picked up some

time through that serpentine section, able to accelerate out of

reach turn. A bank of cloud is causing problems. Rolland is

through the other side, and into top spot by a huge margin! An

excellent run for Rolland, France are first and second now.

She absolutely nailed this low part of the course, from the Tunnel Jump

down, absorbing all the rollers, generating speed. And good

commitment on that final pitch. The biggest start in World skiing,

Linsdey Vonn, from Colorado. Fine adjustments with her hand, focus,

make sure of the grip. And, she goes. With an aggressive

push, the winner of four downhill races already this season. Three

Super-G victories, and giant slalom, she is on top of her form. That was

a beautiful turn. The and of that she created on that left hand has

generated so much more speed over this section they call the launch

pad. Heading towards the Devil's Spine, and a beautiful turn.

hundredths up. She will hope to back this up with a gold medal on

this course. In the 2014. A little mistake there. That will cost her

speed along the Bolshoi Traverse. The split is 56.84. Vonn is ahead.

A massive jump on the Tunnel Jump. Flailing in the air. The speed

meant she jumped so much further than the others. And a mistake. She

didn't see that bomb at all. -- than Rolland. Now on to the really

stick finish. A little bit scrappy. Good on the top of the course, led

-- less good below. It has an imperfect but it is good enough to

lead the way, she is in front again, half a second faster. Excellent

form once again from Linsdey Vonn from the USA.

This was the Tunnel Jump, the massive flight she had. From there,

last year the German snatch the overall World Cup title from

Linsdey Vonn, but things haven't been so easy. She missed pre-season

training and has only won once this best of friends, then they had a

fall-out since Vonn announced her divorce and Maria got married they

have become friends again. A weird set of events but they are once

again close pals. They are very Olympic course in Rosa Khutor.

skied that right hander onto this finished pitch quite well, carrying

speed through the turn. It took a while for her season to get going,

one win in a super combined in St Moritz. But, she leads the weight

in Rosa Khutor by six tents of a second, to deny Vonn. A fantastic

That was this the right hander, on to the finish pitch, where she

carried that much more speed downhill win this season. It came

in Cortina. She is a little way off racer. -- Merighetti is a gutsy

home. How close can she get? Close enough for 4th place. Another solid

leads the way. The Devil's Spine part of the course is getting very

macro is capable of beating anyone on her day. She has hit a rich vein

of form and cannot be ruled out. In the start, Julia Mancuso macro

when of the season in the Super-G. This she is a little way off the

pace here. She is pushing hard, typical. There is a big gap between

first and third. Mancuso macro will be pushing for the podium. Perhaps

a little bit too flat, she would prefer the course to be a bit

pace but there is a good chance of another solid result. She has given

it everything again. Hoefl-Riesch remains in the top spot. And

has been training with the Swiss team this season and her form has

noticeably improved. She is behind Vonn in the standings after four

podium finishers -- finishes. From an epic racing pedigree, the

daughter of a World Cup when her for Austria -- winner. She has had

a fantastic season as well, with no fewer than six top 10 placings in

World Cup downhill racing. Technically, a very good skier, not

as big as some of the other downhill women. Carrying good speed

on to the last jumper. Absolutely fearless. And she has great speed,

pushing again. This has been a monumental season for her, she

rounds it off on the Olympic course with a place on the podium again,

third position. It just gets better Elisabeth Goergl, who won the

super-G and the downhill last year. This season she has impressed again

with their attacking style. She has not been outside the top 10 since

December. Elisabeth Goergl in the start for Austria, number 22. She

could spoil the celebrations for Maria Hoefl-Riesch here today. She

has had a pretty good season, the downhill world champion, a title

she won in Garmisch last February. She had never won a World Cup this

season until she took one at home in Bad Kleinkirchheim. Typical of

Google, full speed ahead. Acting she would prefer the conditions to

the icy and harder. She's a really aggressive skier who likes to have

it really firm underfoot. But this is good! Just lost the pressure on

the outside ski in the middle of that term. Carrying good speed,

run for the Austrian team,1:49.60, she is on the podium. -- Elisabeth

Goergl. She has done it again, good work! Oh, just so aggressive, see

how she is treating her teeth through the turns -- gritting her

teeth. Number 26, Lotte Sejersted for Norway, the best of the

Norwegians this season. A promising junior... She is in trouble here!

Yet, just going on to the double spine, she started with an inside

ski mistake. The crash actually got worse and worse and worse as she

went through. Just went down hard, she did not see that bum at all,

and then she is caught in the soft snow, and this is rare these days

do not release and spin around nastily on her. Hopefully she has

not read anything too badly. She is Maria Hoefl-Riesch! Well, much like

the men's race last week, it was the lower section of the course

that was key, that is where she won this race. Elizabeth Eto'o, as

aggressive as ever, she will be looking forward to racing in 2014.

-- Elisabeth Goergl. Lindsey Vonn was superb at the top of the course,

but mistakes crept in further down. But she takes the title with two

Sochi will host the first were under gains on Russian snow and the

first Olympics in Russia since the Cold War of 1980. A lot has changed

since then, Communism has long gone. Local commerce and industry in this

part of Russia has boomed, capitalising on the billions

ploughed into the Games. However, not everyone has benefited, and

preparations have been far from smooth, as Ed has been finding out.

The 22nd Olympic winter Games in 2014 are awarded to the City of

Sochi! It is four and a half years since Sochi, a city on the shores

of the Black Sea, won the bid to host the 2014 winter Olympics, seen

as one of the most unlikely choices. Not least because the city's

infrastructure was woefully under- equipped. It didn't even have an

international airport. On top of that, the mountains have none of

the required venues and there were questions over security. But all

these things were mere trivialities in the face of Russia's might and

Sochi first came to prominence in the early 20th century when Stalin

decided to develop the town as a coastal resort for Socialist

Workers. But these days the oligarchs run the town, and the

only thing pouring in faster than The vast sums of money swilling

around in Russia at the moment have provoked allegations of corruption.

But that is a traditionally plan Destine world, but it was all blown

wide open just over the road from here when the second biggest Mafia

boss in Russia was gunned down in broad daylight. According to local

police, the shooting was macro building contracts. Corrupt or --

the shooting was about Olympic building contracts. They are now

leaving nothing to chance and security is so tight we nearly had

to hand over our equipment wise filming at the marina. -- whilst.

We have got two to thanks Constantine here for today. The

first and most important is getting us off a potential rap with the

police. We were just filming the sunset, and they decided that they

did not like that. The managed to talk them out of confiscating our

cameras. Secondly, he has ordered a some dried fish, a local delicacy.

It is strong, quite salty, but it goes well with the beer. There is a

local inn here. I have got my fingers crossed we do not bump into

any of those later. It is my birthday, I have promised I will be

more adventurous with the food tomorrow. The next morning,

travelling south alongside the Black Sea, we made our way to the

leg Park, known as the coastal cluster. -- the Olympic Park. The

scale of the allegedly blood stained building contracts became

immediately evident. The coastal cluster will accommodate over

70,000 visitors at a time, and it's the most compact park built in the

history of the winter Olympics. Constructed in a circular formation,

each venue is no more than 10 minutes' walk from the other.

Curling, ice hockey, speed skating, or the ice based disciplines will

be housed on the shores of the Black Sea. The obligatory security

checks out of the way, we were given exclusive access into one of

the most impressive building This is the centrepiece of the

Olympic Park, a 40,000 seat stadium that will host the opening and

closing ceremonies of the winter Games. Then, in 2018, it will be

one of the venues when Russia hosts the FIFA World Cup, but they get

even more bang for the park when the entire Park will host the first

ever Formula One race on Russian sorrow. They are certainly getting

their money's worth. -- Russian This is the iceberg, the venue

where the darling of Russian figure-skating will be expected to

win his gold medal, but cast your mind back to Vancouver when Russia

came a dismal 11th in the medals table, a disappointment that will

not be repeated. Remember, Sochi 2014 is Vladimir Putin's baby, and

Whilst we were here, his number two, the Deputy Prime Minister, was

The politicians will be wanting to avoid scenes like this during the

Olympics. Less than two kilometres behind me is the Georgian-Russian

border, and in 2008, when most people were focused on the Olympics

in Beijing, there was a bloody territorial war waged over this

border. While on paper it looks like a David versus Goliath match-

up, the idea of the world's media being focused on the Olympics less

than 10 kilometres from the border could be seen as an opportune

moment for Georgia to raise its grievances. Fingers crossed the

conflict does not escalate again. It is the wish of every one to show

that safety and security is a special concern, so of course all

around you can see a lot of military guys and policemen. They

are very visible, these pre-emptive measures, and I would give you my

opinion. For me, this is safe and it is normal for the World Cup and

the Olympic Games that everyone pays attention. I am living here

for more than one year now, and I feel absolutely safe and in total

security in this region. They should fear nothing. We have

undoubtedly overawed it here. There is a fantastic amount of food. It

is all a kind of fusion, there is a lot of Middle-Eastern influence,

Mediterranean, a bit of Balkan as well. The meat is fantastic. This

is supposedly Georgian cuisine, and it is quite at that we're having

that having been so close to the border today. The venues look

fantastic, the mountains that we have seen look absolutely stunning.

At the moment, apart from the food, that is what I am preoccupied with.

Day 3, and we are heading up to Krasnaya Polyana, the Mountain

Cluster. Our first glimpse, and the Mercury has plummeted. We are

driving up, it will take two hours on the old road. This is a huge

tunnel for a new motorway which will cut the journey down to under

half an hour. In the valley on the way up to Krasnaya Polyana where

the Mountain Cluster is located, the first Olympic venue we came

across was the jumping centre. The ski jumping arena is still under

construction and is slightly behind a schedule but that doesn't seem to

be worrying anyone. What strikes me is, these are some of the most

stunning visually. Most significantly, the first time women

have jumped at the Olympic Games and they will do it before 10,000

spectators. Another very impressive venue.

Great Britain has a medal, oh yes! Williams is the Queen of speed.

Recently, Bob skeleton has provided Team GB with more Winter Olympic

medals than any other discipline. This is the two kilometre track

with speeds of up to 130 kilometres an hour. The highest so -- peak is

Rosa Khutor where the alpine events will be held. The lift system here

was made up of a ramshackle collection of ancient chairlift.

Now, they have a maze of chairlifts which have opened these mountains

up. They can now boast the kind of terrain size which would make any

resort in the European Alps jealous. We can only be impressed by the

massive investment and magnitude of this project. We are impressed how

rapidly hour Russian colleagues can put in place this infrastructure in

the valleys and mountains. We will build up to nine new state-of-the-

art lifts, it is amazing. I am not aware of any other project of this

size in the world in the tourism industry.

The one of the biggest tests facing a venue when they applied to host

the Olympics is whether they can deliver a challenging downhill

course. The one laid out below make his prove that Rosa Khutor has the

credentials. If you think about how much vertical mountain a racer

needs to travel for two minutes at 60 miles an hour average speed,

they will use up an awful lot of mountain. 1,700 metres, an awful

I am not joking, this is the best menu a I have ever seen. An English

translation of a Russian venue. The foreign visitors. The assorted

butchers shop. This is what it says! My personal favourite,

vegetables pickled Granita Tavern. I am having for pudding a cake with

honey. Alongside the traditional sports of

moguls, you have ski half pipe. Boarder cross. And here, the new

kid on the block, a series of jumps down a long course. Skiers and

snowboarders can play. It is in the snowboard discipline that Britain

has its best medal chance. Jenny jones already has three Winter

Games medals to her name. She has This resort succeeds on so many

levels. It is an Olympic worthy venue. More importantly, it is a

beautiful mountain and an I have to admit I didn't come to

Sochi with high expectations but this resort has really impressed me.

The Games here will be like no other. The Winter Olympics has

always had a special place in my heart.

I grew up watching the legendary rivalry between Franz Klammer and

Bernard Russi. However there was an even greater sporting clash that

made a bigger impression on me. titanic encounter, played out on

both a sporting stage and a complicated political stage. This

history books refer to it simple as the Miracle on Ice. 1980, decades

of tension between the US and Soviet Union had reached fever

pitch. This was the heat of the Cold War. The Russian invasion of

Afghanistan angered America. And in an Olympic year of birth Winter and

Summer Games, the political friction would be played out on the

world's biggest sporting stage. Those who believe sport has nothing

to do with politics are living in a dream world. The Olympics were

viewed as the perfect opportunity to prove the success and dominance

of a regime. At the Winter Games in 1980, America's rivalry with the

Soviets would be at its most intense on the ice.

They are from the grace and start of the ski slopes. America knocked

out Russia. 2-1. Since the Winter Games began, these are old

adversaries have faced off for Olympic gold. While the event was

played by amateurs, the Soviets dominated. In 1980, they were

overwhelming favourites having won gold in the four-man crew previous

Games. In the bitter chill of a Cold War storm, the Russians set

foot on American soil. They would face their posts in Lake Placid.

The atmosphere that greeted there was far from serene. You sat on the

bench, you hear the chanting, the noise, it was so loud. It was so

important for us to have that atmosphere. We worry young team,

that relied on emotion and intensity. But cat and Mike

Eruzione led a side of experienced college kids. Many of their Russian

opponents were drafted from the Soviet military, strength in body

and mind, built on a foundation of gruelling training and genuine

talent. COMMENTATOR: A tremendous goal!

They have equalised, three goals each. Goal! Mike Eruzione has put

the United States in the lead, 4-3. What a sensation! The time now on

the clock going down. We were throwing our body in front of

everything, it was great. COMMENTATOR: Five seconds. And, the

United States has beaten the Soviet Union.

For it was bedlam. I think just the atmosphere for the players, it was

so genuine. 38 years I have been reporting on

ice hockey and I have never seen a seen by his before. Known now as

the miracle on Ice, the Americans had won the battle in the sporting

Cold War. They went on to capture a gold and the imagination of their

country. Can I speak to the captain? Hello, Mr President.

all the team how much I love them and we will see them at the White

House, we are all proud you. Good luck to you. Winning Olympic gold

on home ground meant so much to the nation even when the political

COMMENTATOR: Canada's moment, gold. Similar scenes in Canada two years

ago. Russia will be hoping for Behrendt Miracle on Ice in Sochi.

I have genuinely enjoyed my time in Sochi, and the prospect of coming

back for the 20 14th Winter Olympics is mouth-watering. Skiing

and snowboarding will have the lion's share of the Games. Well,

sadly that's it from Ski Sunday for this winter. It's got to be the

great Didier Cuche conquering KItzbuhel for the fifth time.

didn't think I would ever see a skier break Klammer's stranglehold