Skiing: Tomba target is Nagano

Alberto Tomba, the double Olympic gold medallist and five-times world champion, has rebuffed speculation that he is to retire after a season marred by illness and injury by saying he intends taking part in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Japan.

"Absolutely everything has happened to me this year." the 30-year-old Italian said. "I don't want all this to happen again and therefore want to prepare myself for such an important season." Nagano will stage the Winter Games next February.

Tomba, who took a bronze medal in the slalom at the World Championships in Italy in February, added: "I have an enormous desire to start again and in my head I feel very stimulated."