3000-strong fleet for 2006 Winter Olympics

In keeping with its role as an official sponsor of the 2006 Winter Olympics, Fiat is delivering some 3000 cars to the organisers of the Games, which are taking place in the company’s home town, Turin, next month. The Italian car maker’s new four-wheel drive Fiat Sedici is the official car of the 2006 Games.

As well as providing transport for officials, Fiat has also provided additional vehicle support for particular teams, including the Jamaican Bobsleigh team, made famous in a film featuring the unlikely scenario of a tropical nation tackling an archetypal winter sport.

The Olympic fleet will be made up of 2000 Fiat Sedicis and other Group cars that meet the various operating requirements, including the new Grande Punto which goes on sale in the UK next month, the Fiat Croma, Panda 4x4, Fiat Idea, Alfa 159 and Alfa Crosswagon.

Some of these cars will be assigned to delegations and television operators from all parts of the world, while hundreds of other cars will be used by the operational heart of the Games: the 3000 Torino 2006 volunteer drivers.

Safe Driving courses have been organised for these volunteers, and thanks to Magneti Marelli, all the Fiat Cromas and Alfa 159s in the Olympic fleet have been equipped with the latest generation info-telematic and satellite navigation systems that will enable them to reach the various Olympic sites and areas of interest by following directions given vocally or on-screen.

Further cars are being provided as part of various initiatives put in place by Fiat Auto. These include the Fiat Freestyle Team, which brings together the most talented Italian snowboarders and freestyle skiers; the Alfa Romeo Ski Racing Team, which is made up of leading members of the Italian Alpine Skiing team; sponsorship of the Jamaican Bob Federation; the bond between Lancia and the world of figure skating through the Lancia Ice team; and finally, sponsorship of the Italian men’s and women’s ice hockey teams by Fiat Light Commercial Vehicles.

Fiat is also an Institutional Sponsor of the Olympic Flame Relay, which started from Rome on 8 December, 2005, and will reach Turin on Friday, 10 February, the day of the inauguration of the XX Olympic Winter Games, having covered over 11,300 kilometres in little more than two months.