Q) Evelina Christillin, there was an explosion of happiness for you and Turin 2006 a year ago today at dawn in Italy. The Olympics had been won, Sion was defeated. It was the 19th of June 1999 – today is the 19th of June 2000: these have been 366 days of what fire? Uncertainties? Fear?
A) Many things, for sure this has been a short year. It could seem banal to say it, but that day seems like yesterday. Actually the workload of the previous thirteen months just continued during these past twelve: the time
just flew by.
Q) And even in the beginning you yourself were worried about the delay in the establishment of the Organizing Committee…
A) That’s true. In that period it seemed like the time would never pass. Or rather, that it passed without anything happening. The drafting of the Statutes seemed to block the works and didn’t allow for that continuity
between that phase of the candidature and that of the organization that everybody hoped for. But today, from a different point of view, I can say that time flew.
Q) Well we’ve gone from Christillin the Crudelia to a woman in politics?
A) Not this. Just to get things straight, the image of Crudelia was a Metropolitan legend. If this nickname stands for being decisive and direct then it suits me. But I don’t think you can be any other way with the commitment that we have taken on, on behalf of our city and our region, and
also in respect to all of Italy and the world. This is why I remain a citizen accustomed to working to the pace of the private sector. Certainly that of politics and the public sector was unknown to me, and for certain reasons prolonged the months, but I understood that they existed.
Q) Are the delays physiologic?
A) I wouldn’t exactly say so. If we look at the examples of others, for example in the extreme case of Athens, certainly we’re not in bad shape. As an Organizing Committee we got things done within the reasonable time, above all respecting the criteria of efficiency and transparency. We started off from last June 19 with Castellani as President of TOROC and with me as one
of the 4 vice-presidents. A solution that you can’t take for granted, since I didn’t know if I would have remained in this situation. Then we chose a wonderful Director General who was not linked to politics. And now within
the next month, we will hire the first six top level managers. Everything will be done through public referrals by personnel agencies and only with very concise criteria for the positions. However, we are doing things well.
Also by getting the territory involved to give value to the resources that we already have without focussing everything on TOROC. All things that the IOC is taking note of and appreciating, as can be seen in the daily contacts
with Lausanne and the words that President Samaranch said about us a few days ago when he came to Turin for Nebiolo Day.
Q) Then the wind is blowing in the right direction and Turin 2006 is sailing straight and clear?
A) We can’t say that yet. There is still a delay on the public Agency for the investments. Parliament hasn’t yet passed the law for it’s institution.
Q) Then the word ‘delay’ can’t be deleted yet?
A) We’re not in a state of alarm, but we are getting anxious. When I look at the technical amount of time that’s needed, like I said before, you can’t say that it coincides with that for politics. The sports facilities can’t have delays: you risk getting down to the line out of breath.
Q) Is this the reason why you didn’t organize a toast for the anniversary?
A) We’ll have a private party in the offices at the Lingotto. This was a choice that depended a little bit on our Savoy composure. Actually what we want to toast is the first brick of the Bob venue. For the moment we prefer
to get down to work, also because very soon we will have an encounter with the IOC. And then there is also the Italian match in the European soccer finals, it would have been difficult to organize a real ceremony or even a special evening.
Q) Right Zoff’s Italy. What do you say, are you critical of him or are do you defend him?
A) Up to now I have seen a discreet Italy playing, with some uncertainties on the defence but getting stronger. But this championship is proving to be full of surprises: anything can happen, even that the Italians go all the
way to the final round.
Q) This would be another Italian triumph, like that of 19 June 1999. What do you remember about that day?
A) The faces, the gaping expressions of the Swiss when Samaranch announced the word Turin. And at the same time the stampede of the photographers, cameramen, and journalists from the area around the Sion group rushing
towards us. It was a visual impression of a mass that unexpectedly shifted.
Then everything is confused.