Monaco prince on ice as Olympic practice keeps up pace
Prince Albert Grimaldi of Monaco put his team's sled on the ice on the opening day of practice sessions at the bobsleigh course Monday as an increasing number of athletes tested venues of the upcoming Nagano Olympics.

Prince Albert hurriedly made one descent on the Spiral ice chute in Nagano before rushing to the opening ceremony of the 107th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session.

The prince, making his fourth consecutive appearance in winter Olympics, is an IOC member and plans to stay at the Olympic Village with other athletes during the Feb. 7-22 games.

At the biathlon venue in Nozawa Onsen, athletes were allowed to perform shooting practice by using bullets for the first time, with most of pre-Olympic favorites present.

Among the favorites was Lillehammer Olympic double gold medalist Myriam Bedard of Canada, who got a feel of the shooting range and the cross country course on a sunny, windless day.

The cross country course in Hakuba was officially opened to training by athletes, most of whom checked out the snow conditions on the demanding course with their waxmen.

Fumiko Aoki, the top Japanese women's cross country skier, and her teammates spent the day training on the weights while others took the day off.

(Kyodo News)

(February 2, 1998)