Chizuka, a member of the Japanese Olympic Committee Executive Board, said it will probably be tough for Japanese athletes to win a gold medal in Turin but podium finishes are achievable in a handful of events.

Chizuka said the women's team pursuit in speed skating, which will be incepted as an official medal event in Turin, is a promising candidate to bring a silver medal to Japan. He said bronze medals can be won in such events as ski jumping's team event, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, men's and women's speed skating, and women's figure skating.

Earlier Tuesday, the JOC announced the appointment of Chizuka as Japan's delegation head for the Feb. 10-26 Turin Games. The 66-year-old also serves as vice president of the Japan Ice Hockey Federation.

Japan's medal count in a Winter Olympics dropped to one silver and one bronze at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games four years after winning five golds, one silver and three bronzes in Nagano for the country's best showing.

The Japan Times: May 25, 2005