Date: 7-22 February 1998
NOCs (Nations): 72
Athletes: 2,176 (787 women, 1,389 men)
Sports: 7
Events: 68
Volunteers: 32,000
Media: 8,329 (2,586 written press, 5,743 broadcasters)
In 1998 the Winter Olympic Games returned to Japan after 26
years. Snowboarding and curling debuted as official sports and
women’s ice hockey was introduced to the Olympic programme. For the
first time, the men’s ice hockey tournament was opened to all
professionals. The inspired team from the Czech Republic scored a
surprise victory. Bj?rn D?hlie won three gold medals in Nordic
skiing to become the first winter athlete to earn eight career gold
medals and twelve total medals. Tara Lipinski won the women’s
figure skating title to become, at 15, the youngest champion in an
individual event in the history of the Winter Olympics. The spirit
of the Games was exemplified by Alpine skier Hermann Maier. Maier
survived a spectacular fall in the downhill, recovered and earned
gold medals in both the super-G and the giant slalom.
With a record entry of 60 athletes to the Games in Nagano,
Japan, China strived for its first gold medal but finished with six
silvers and two bronzes. Chinese short-track speed skaters reaped
five silvers and one bronze as Chen Lu took home another bronze
medal.
(COC Website?? July 8, 2004)