Giorgio Di Centa, the pride of Friuli, on his way to Vancouver!

The regional office of the Friuli Venezia Region held on January 29^th, 2010 a press conference in Udine to introduce the athletes from this part of Italy who will be taking part in the upcoming Vancouver Winter Olympics.

The special highlight of the conference was cross-country skier and twice Olympic gold medal winner, Giorgio Di Centa, who will be Italy’s official flag-bearer at the opening ceremonies in Vancouver. On hand was also his sister Manuela, a cross-country skier, gold-medal winner herself (five medals: two gold, two silver and one bronze) and also a member of the International Olympic Committee (she’s smiling in the middle of the picture between a journalist and Luca Ciriani, the vice-president of the FVG region). All pics by M. Rimati.

Can’t sleep? Well then try counting 860 sheep!

Yes, for those insomniacs out there, the world’s largest collection of sheep (not real ones mind you) at the Villa Manin!

The sheep have been created by 5,000 school children and 160 teachers using a variety of products, from plastic cups all the way to popcorn! The exhibit was set-up under the Christmas period at the beautiful Villa Manin located not too far away from Udine (all pics by M. Rimati).