NEXT TIME, POST A GUARD AT THE GATE

Turns out the Austrians and Swiss did not protest the outcome of the men’s downhill, but there is still controversy over whether a gate at the top of the course was moved without approval.

Fifteen of the 43 starters in the downhill did not finish, all either crashing or skiing off course near Gate 7.

Many racers are convinced the gate was moved, but Bill Egan, U.S. men’s Alpine coach, wasn’t sure.

“The moving of the gate is something that has not been verified,” he said. “I was out there all day except when I went to the toilet. That’s probably when they moved it.”

MAYBE IT WOULD WORK ON EL NINO

A man in Hakuba handed a reporter a small snowman he claimed to have crafted from cloth and thread. He said he had made one doll each day since the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics games ended.

The man said the “Snowboys” were supposed to bring good weather. He said this shortly after Saturday’s Alpine events were once again wiped out because of rain.

Tim Dwyer, a Philadelphia columnist, took the “Snowboy” he was handed Saturday and snipped it in half with a scissors.

LOTS OF REST, FLUID AND NO SHOW TUNES

Whatever you do, for goodness sakes, don’t sing! The following sign is posted at the main press center’s infirmary: “If you have the flu: No smoking, no drinking, no karaoke.”