FIGURE SKATERS IN PRACTISE; SPEED SKATERS; BRITISH WOMEN'S SKI TEAM; OTHER SKIERS IN ACTION; SKIER DEMONSTRATES MAKERS' NAME ON SKIS.




Initials PW/V/CR/SGM



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Background: WITH THE OPENING OF THE WINTER OLYMPICS AT GRENOBLE JUST FOUR DAYS AWAY, COMPETITORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE GATHERING IN THE FRENCH RESORT.

AND, IGNORING THE THREAT OF SEX TESTS AND THE EVER-SIMMERING ROW OVER "SHAMATEURISM" SKATERS AND SKIERS ARE CROWDING THE ICE RINKS AND SKI SLOPES FOR VALUABLE PRACTISE SESSIONS.

NO EFFORT OR EXPENSE HAS BEEN SPARED IN PREPARATIONS FOR THE OLYMPICS, AND THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE IN GRENOBLE BOASTS EVERY FACILITY FOR THE WORLD'S TOP SNOW AND ICE SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN. 2,200 ATHLETES AND THEIR ADVISERS WILL BE ACCOMMODATED THERE.

THE OPENING CEREMONY ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, WILL BE PERFORMED BY PRESIDENT DE GAULLE.

BUT ALTHOUGH ALL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE WINTER OLYMPICS HAVE GONE SMOOTHLY, A NOTE OF DISCORD ECHOES ROUND THE SNOW SLOPES OF GRENOBLE. THIS AROSE WHEN THE OLYMPIC ORGANISERS, LED BY MR AVERY BRUNDAGE, PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, ATTACKED THE PRESENCE OF "SHAMATEURS" IN OLYMPIC SPORTS.

THEY CITED AS AN EXAMPLE THE PRACTISE OF SOME SKIERS OF ENSURING THAT THE NAMES OF THE MANUFACTURERS OF THEIR SKIS ARE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED.

HOWEVER, DESPITE THIS AND THE COMPULSORY SEX-DETERMINATION TESTS IMPOSED ON ALL WOMEN COMPETITORS, THE WORLD'S BEST WINTER SPORT ATHLETES ARE BUSY PREPARING FOR THE BIG EVENTS NOW ONLY HOURS AWAY.