Vancouver's Olympic troubles continued on Saturday as the men's downhill skiing event was postponed due to unsuitable weather.
First Alpine event at Winter Olympics postponed due to weather
The troubled Vancouver Olympics continued to be hit with bad news on Saturday, as the men's downhill skiing event was postponed due to the continuing unsuitable weather.
Rain and high temperatures have made the course too slushy for racers to ski down, meaning the opening Alpine event of the 2010 Winter Olympics must take place another time.
The women's super-combined event due to be held on Sunday was already postponed on Friday, and now the opening men's event has been shelved with no new date yet released, but they will most probably try for Monday.
The build-up to the Games had been plagued by poor weather, with rain, fog and high temperatures causing a slushy slope much too dangerous to race on.
Organisers have even had to ship in snow from higher ground as warm temperatures threaten to badly disrupt the Olympic schedule, and already they are two days behind in the skiing.
International Ski Federation race director Gunter Hujara said that the piste was unacceptable for high speed racing after yet more unsuitable weather.
"The piste has been badly affected these last two days by the mild temperatures and the humid conditions with snow and rain," Hujara said.
Conditions are expected to improve on Monday when officials will most probably try and get the men's downhill in progress, but it is more bad publicity that Vancouver chiefs could do without after a troubled and tragic start.
