Thursday, February 23, 2006

Luca Maggiora, 26, of Torino, said he hasn't had a chance to walk around Torino in over a month because he's been working at the main media transportation hub in Oulx, Italy, in preparation for and during the 2006 Winter Olympics. Because of a positive article written about him by a reporter from San Diego, Luca said his bosses invited him to dinner and the Lou Reed Medals Plaza concert on Thursday in Torino.

Maggiora gets a minibus to transport media members to an event venue from the main transportation hub in Oulx, Italy, on Thursday. Maggiora, 26, is overseeing transportation at the hub during the 2006 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. He is known by photographers and reporters for moving fast to find alternate transportation, such as minibuses or cars, when the buses are delayed, and for sweetalking bus drivers into doing extra runs to help him out.

Maggiora watches as media members file towards their buses at the main transportation hub in Oulx, Italy, on Thursday. He said he's met a lot of characters working the post, but that the hardest part is handling the bus drivers.

Maggiora takes a break to light a cigarette before getting back to work at the main media transportation hub in Oulx on Thursday. He has been fighting a flu the last few days but hasn't missed a day directing bus and media member traffic up in the mountains around Torino.

Maggiora gets a minibus to transport media members to an event venue from the main transportation hub in Oulx, Italy, on Thursday.