OUI TIMES THREE
For the third time since its inauguration in 1924, the Winter Olympics return to the French Alps. ItFrance. Albertville is the site of only 18 of the 57 events, as the French organizers opt to deal out the 12 venues among Albertville and seven neighboring towns. Even more towns in the Savoy Alps are used for demonstration events, Olympic villages and press and broadcasting center, resulting in plenty of traffic jams and a lack of unity and intimacy compared to previous Olympics.
FATALITY IN FRANCE
Nicholas Bochatay, an alpine skier from Switzerland, dies a day before the closing ceremony, killed in a noncompetition-related accident.
UNITED WE STAND
The changing face of international governments and boundaries includes the 1990 reunification of Germany and the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union. The result for the 1992 Albertville Games is a record 2,174 athletes from 65 countries as well as a single, united German team for the first time in 28 years and a Unified Team comprised of former Soviet athletes. Both combo teams fare well against competition worldwide, as Germany edges the Unified team 26-23 for the most medals overall in 1992.
A WOMENand short-track speedskater Cathy Turner.
SEPARATE IDENTITIES
The collapse of the Soviet Union results in countries such as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania competing as themselves and under their own flags for the first time in more than a half-century.
STRIKING THE GOLD
The Unified team features not one but two stars who collect five medals each in cross country, with Lyubov Egorova collecting three golds and a silver and Elena Valbe a gold and four bronze. And at age 39 and as a member of the UT medals if" WIDTH="13" HEIGHT="9" VALIGN="MIDDLE">DEMISE OF A DYNASTY
Comprised of athletes from five nations formerly aligned with the USSR, the Unified Team captures the ice hockey gold. The result is a hockey championship with a strong Soviet flavor for the sixth time in the past seven Olympics.
IDOL INSPIRATION
Kristi Yamaguchi of the United States skates to the gold medal in the women
