European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 20, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Cover Story going for the Gold from he cover surrounding ski resorts will be stuck with a mountainous lax Bill. A a we la be paying for this for the next 10 years maybe a said Bertrand. Never mind that. For now the town buzzes with something More than the sound of jackhammers. Virtually since oct. 17, 1986, when it was chosen on the fifth ballot to Host the olympics Albertville has gone from a shabby Little Industrial town with a sideline in skiing to a wired in built up buzzed Over and buttoned Down Hub of the skiing universe. At the red and White Metal building housing the olympic organization committee a dozen or so marketing agents Are in constant touch by computer phone and fax with the likes of coca cola Kodak Philips and dozens of other big league corporate sponsors. Nearby engineers Hunch Over computers working out details of where cameras and speakers will be placed in the High Speed skating Arena while starched and Stern Security officials draw up plans for guarding an area of More than 1,000 Square Miles. S4s Ken Georg due chillers will Snow under to incs. 54s in Georg it s Tough getting lost on the Way to Cour Chevel site of the ski jumping and nordic combined. French schoolchildren and visitors from around the world Are streaming into the House of games in downtown Albertville where olympic films and exhibitions All in French Are presented. On Albertville a main Street Rue de la re pub Lique local merchants Are Selling everything from a holy pique autom Atique Quot umbrellas to lighters switchblades and windbreakers All with the olympic logo or the Mascot a a playful Sta shaped Imp. Big Money is on the line Here. The budget for the Winter games is almost 4 billion francs $73 1 million another 4 billion francs is being spent on Road construction. Much of the big Money is going to Spruce up Albertville a Headquarters for the 16th Winter olympics a and a dozen other villages in the Savoie Region that Are involved in staging the games or housing athletes. One things for certain. You can to improve much on the natural setting. Peak for Peak the Savoie Region provides some of the Best skiing in Europe if not the world. With an imposing Chain of mountains Cut to the heart with deep valleys and passes crisscrossed since ancient times by different Peoples the Region seems infused with a fabulous mystical Aura. In Modem times the Savoie mostly has been infused with skiers who come to mine the a White Gold of its internationally renowned slopes. The three valleys a Cou Cheval Meribel and Les menu res Val Thorens a represent the largest ski area in the world with a combined 300 Miles of ski slopes equipped with 200 lifts and More than 600 Snow making machines. Nearby space Killy which spreads from tines to Val do Serc offers almost 200 Miles in ski runs. The organizers settled on 10 olympic resorts for the events and three other Sites where press and athletes will be lodged. The 13 Sites Are about 80 percent completed said Fabienne Benoit a spokeswoman for the olympic organizing committee. The olympic towns Are Alt modern resorts. Only Val do is re with its tiny i Ith Century Church resembles the quaint Alpine farm villages of neighbouring Austria and Switzerland. What slacking in atmosphere. However is made up for in efficiency. All the slopes Are finished and undergoing last minute testing. The new $20 million hockey rink in Meribel underwent tests during the summer and is ready for action. In mid september several French skiers were doing dry runs sans Snow on Cour Cheval a new ski jump. In the old spa town of brides los Bains where . And other nations athletes Are staying work on a sumptuous new Casino Thermal spa fitness Center and recently renovated hotel is finishing up. Workers Are Busy widening and rebuilding the main Street. In Albertville the hard hats arc working to Complete the ceremonies stadium by nov. 1. The a amps Peter Jaeger Page 4 a sunday october 20, 1991