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THE GAMES IN NUMBERS2,50884EVENTS1,548 MEN960WOMEN10-26FEBRUARYFor the first time in Olympic history, the Turin medals featured an open space in the centre intended to represent the Italian piazza Ð an open space of participation, passion and celebration. The front of the medal included the graphic elements of the Games, while the reverse showed the pictogram of the sports discipline in which the medal was won. The medals were designed by Dario Quatrini. MEDALSThe mascots for the Olympic Winter Games Turin 2006, ÒNeveÓ and ÒGlizÓ, were created by Portuguese designer Pedro Albuquerque following an international contest. Neve, taken from the Italian word for snow, was a snowball dressed in red whose fluid contours were intended to reflect the harmony and elegance of movement. Gliz, a nod to the word ÒghiaccioÓ, which means ice, was an ice cube whose angular and smooth shapes recalled the power and strength of athletes.MASCOTSPicturedFireworks light up Turin Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony80NOCsATHLETESOLYMPIC FLASHBACKOLYMPIC REVIEW 69