THE OLYMPICS / WINTER GAMES AT ALBERTVILLE : NOTES : French Withdraw Protest of Medals Awarded to Italians

The French Ski Federation announced Friday that it has withdrawn the protest it filed Tuesday night after the men’s Alpine combined competition in Val d’Isere. At the time, the French claimed that the advertising logos for the ski-wear manufacturer Silvy, worn on the sweaters of Josef Polig and Gianfranco Martin, who won the gold and silver medals for Italy that afternoon, exceeded the allowable size.

The International Ski Federation provisionally rejected the protest, but said it would examine the matter further and would not make a final decision for three weeks. If the protest had been upheld, Frenchman Jean-Luc Cretier, who finished fourth, would have moved up to the silver medal, behind Steve Locher of Switzerland, who would have gone from the bronze to the gold.

Jean-Claude Killy, co-president of the Winter Olympic Organizing Committee, said during a visit to the luge competition at La Plagne that the 16th Winter Games are moving along right on track.

“I am very satisfied with the organization of the Games,” he said. “After six days, we’re right on schedule. It’s not always easy, but things are going well.”

Killy and IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch have been visiting many of the venues together.