Japan down Italy to keep semifinal hopes alive

Japan down Italy to keep semifinal hopes alive

PINEROLO, Italy - Skip Ayumi Onodera (R) and her teammate Yumie Hayashi hug each other in joy after Japan beat hosts Italy in in the Turin Olympic women's curling tournament at the Palaghiccio arena in Pinerolo on Feb. 20. Japan kept alive its hopes of reaching the semifinals.

Japan down Italy to keep semifinal hopes alive

Japan down Italy to keep semifinal hopes alive

PINEROLO, Italy - (From L to right) Yumie Hayashi, Ayumi Onodera, Mari Motohashi and Moe Meguro wave at audiences in celebration after beating hosts Italy in the Turin Olympic women's curling tournament at the Palaghiccio arena in Pinerolo on Feb. 20. Japan kept alive its hopes of reaching the semifinals.

Passionate cheers at Olympic venues

Passionate cheers at Olympic venues

PINEROLO, Italy - Two Japanese men, one wearing a curling stone-shaped hat, send cheers to their women's team at the Palaghiccio arena in Pinerolo.

Japan beaten by Sweden in curling

Japan beaten by Sweden in curling

PINEROLO, Italy - Japanese curlers (from L to R) Yumie Hayashi, Moe Meguro and Mari Motohashi stand beside the Swedish team celebrating their 8-7 win over Japan in an extra end in the curling event at the Turin Olympics on Feb. 18.

Japan edges out U.S. for 1st win in women's curling

Japan edges out U.S. for 1st win in women's curling

PINEROLO, Italy - Members of the Japanese women's curling team -- (from L to R) Mari Motohashi, Yumie Hayashi, Ayumi Onodera and Sakurako Terada -- celebrate their 6-5 victory over the United States team in the women's curling tournament of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Pinerolo, Italy, on Feb. 14.

Losing start for Japan in women's curling

Losing start for Japan in women's curling

PINEROLO, Italy - (From L to R) Japanese curlers Moe Meguro, Yumie Hayashi and Mari Motohashi play against Russia in the women's curling tournament at the Turin Olympics on Feb. 14. Japan got off to a heartbreaking start, losing 7-5 to Russia after giving up three points in the final.

Olympic torch arrives in Pinerolo

Olympic torch arrives in Pinerolo

PINEROLO, Italy - The Turin Olympic torch arrives in Pinerolo, the venue of the curling games, carried by a woman on a white horse on Feb. 3, a week ahead of the opening of the Olympic Games.