Bobsleigh at the 2006 Winter Olympics

Three bobsleigh events were competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics, at the Cesana Pariol venue. The competition took place between February 18 and February 25 2006. Approximately 7,130 spectators were expected by the organizing committee.

The events used a newly built track measuring 1435 metres with 19 curves, a vertical change of 114 metres, and an approximate top speed of 130 kilometres per hour.

Olympic bobsleigh is governed by the International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation.

Qualification

All entries must have been submitted to the organizing committee by 30 January 2006.

The qualification was based on the results of pilots, with other members of a bobsleigh crew being selected by their National Olympic Committees. In the two man event, the top 22 pilots from the World Cup 2005-2006 season, the top 4 from the European Challenge Cup, and the top 2 from the North American Challenge Cup all qualified, subject to limits on number of crews per NOC. The four man event qualification was identical except that the World Cup season qualifies only 20 pilots. The two woman event allowed the top 15 pilots from the World Cup 2005-2006 season. NOCs may not have selected other pilots than those who were within the qualifying limits, though if more than two pilots have qualified the selection was made by each individual NOC.

The host nation is guaranteed at least one crew in each event. In addition, all five of the Olympic continents must be represented, with at least one crew in a men's event and one crew in the two woman event. Each nation is limited to two bobs in each event.

Bobsleigh has a minimum age of 18 by the opening date of the Games for competitors.

Events

Competitions comprised four heats. Teams raced in the first and third heats in the order of the draw. The second heat was raced in order of ranking after the first heat, and the fourth heat is raced in order of the ranking after the first three heats. Total time for the four heats determined the final rank.

Two-man

The two man event was held on 18 February 2006 (runs 1 and 2) and 19 February 2006 (runs 3 and 4).

When qualifications were concluded on 15 January 2006, the following pilots were in positions that will qualify them for the four-man event [ [http://bobsleigh.wige-data.com/db/cup.asp?cup=BSMP4_2005 World Cup 4-Man Individual Points] from FIBT.com, retrieved 23 January 2006] [ [http://www.bobsleigh.com/results/2005-2006/Men%27s%20Bobsleigh/Challenge%20Cup/Konigssee_CC_4MAmericas_Jan_22_2006.htm Challenge Cup - 2-Man America's Division (19/01/2006)] from FIBT.com, retrieved 23 January 2006] [ [http://www.bobsleigh.com/results/2005-2006/Men%27s%20Bobsleigh/Challenge%20Cup/Konigssee_CC_4MEuropa_Jan_22_2006.htm Challenge Cup - 2-Man Europa Division (19/01/2006)] from FIBT.com, retrieved 23 January 2006] .

*flagIOC|AUT|2006 Winter
**Wolfgang Stampfer
*flagIOC|BRA|2006 Winter
**Ricardo Raschini
*flagIOC|CAN|2006 Winter
**Pierre Lueders
*flagIOC|CRO|2006 Winter
**Ivan Sola
*flagIOC|FRA|2006 Winter
**Bruno Mingeon
*flagIOC|GBR|2006 Winter
**Lee Johnston
*flagIOC|GER|2006 Winter
**André Lange
**René Spies
*flagIOC|HUN|2006 Winter
**Marton Gyulai
*flagIOC|ITA|2006 Winter
**Simone Bertazzo
**Fabrizio Tosini
*flagIOC|LAT|2006 Winter
**Jānis Miņins
**Mihails Arhipovs
*flagIOC|NED|2006 Winter
**Arend Glas
*flagIOC|NZL|2006 Winter
**Alan Henderson
*flagIOC|POL|2006 Winter
**Dawid Kupczyk
*flagIOC|ROU|2006 Winter
**Nicolae Istrate
*flagIOC|RUS|2006 Winter
**Alexandre Zoubkov
**Evgeni Popov
*flagIOC|SVK|2006 Winter
**Milan Jagnesak
*flagIOC|SUI|2006 Winter
**Two from the following three:
**Martin Annen
**Ivo Rüegg
**Martin Galliker
*flagIOC|USA|2006 Winter
**Two from the following three:
**Todd Hays
**Steven Holcomb
**Mike Kohn

References

* [http://www.todor66.com/olim/2006w/Bobsleigh_Doubles.html 2006 bobsleigh two-man results]
* [http://www.todor66.com/olim/2006w/Bobsleigh_Fours.html 2006 bobsleigh four-man results]
* [http://www.todor66.com/olim/2006w/Bobsleigh_Women_Doubles.html 2006 bobsleigh two-woman results]

External links

* [http://www.torino2006.org/ENG/OlympicGames/bin/page/C_3_page_eng_82_spalla_paragrafo_1_attachments_s_allegato_0_object_s.pdf TOROC Explanatory Book - Bobsleigh]