Welcome to the 1998 Olympic Men's Downhill!!

The fastest, most exciting event at any winter olympics has to be the men's downhill. This years Nagano competition will be no exception and our Canadian team is more than ready to meet the challenge!

Two weeks of thrilling winter sport entertainment launches on February 7 with the XVIII Olympic Winter Games. An incredible 67 countries are planning to participate and Nagano has already broken it's first record with over 2,590 athletes confirmed to be competing! The 1992 Albertville Olympic venue holds the current record with 1,801 competitors having participated.

Since being awarded the contract to host the 1998 elite winter games, the Nagano Organizing Committee (NAOC) has made environmental preservation a priority. Consequently, the NAOC and the International Ski Federation (FIS) found themselves locked in a 5 year dispute over the start point of the men's downhill. The NAOC until recently refused to raise the start line, concerned a National Park covering part of the mountain would be adversely affected. The FIS argues that without raising the start line, the course would not be a true Olympic test for these athletes. Finally in early January 1998 the dispute was resolved when the NAOC conceded to raise the the start gate from 1,680 m to 1,765 m. Although the FIS has pushed to have the the start line at 1,800 the course does appear fitting for the this elite competition.

The actual site of the men's downhill is located in Hakuba's Happo'one Ski Area. Happo'one is nestled amidst the Japanese Alps approximately 45 kms from the Olympic Village. The downhill course length is 3,280 m with a 925 m vertical drop.

Now that the snow has finally started falling (which up until the second week of January it had not!) and the start line issues are behind us there is nothing stopping our Canadians from a podium finish! Be sure to tune into the race on February 8 at 10:15 am to cheer our men's team on!