Fog disruptes men's downhill training at Vancouver Olympics

Fog disruptes men's downhill training at Vancouver Olympics

A staff member walks at the Alpine skiing venue at Whistler Olympic park for the Vancouver 2010 winter Olympic games in Whistler, Canada, Feb. 10, 2010. First training for the Men's Olympic downhill was cancelled due to the snow and fog on Wednesday.

WHISTLER, Canada, Feb. 10 -- The first training run of the showcase men's Alpine skiing downhill was thwarted on Wednesday by a heavy fog, as less than half of the runners completed their practice two days before the opening of the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

After 42 of the 87 runners finished the Dave Murray run, the training session was abandoned when cloud rolled in with heavy snowfall.

The race, which is the glamour event of the Winter Olmpics, is scheduled to open the Alpine program on Saturday, but it cannot be held until all the competitors have completed a training run. And Wednesday's session does not count.

Organisers have a second and third chance to get a session in on Thursday and Friday before a race postponement becomes inevitable.

Staff members clean the Alpine skiing venue at Whistler Olympic park for the Vancouver 2010 winter Olympic games in Whistler, Canada, Feb. 10, 2010.

Staff members clean the Alpine skiing venue at Whistler Olympic park for the Vancouver 2010 winter Olympic games in Whistler City, Canada, Feb. 10, 2010.
(Xinhua)