Men's downhill postponed because of slushy course

WHISTLER, British Columbia -- Officials postponed the men's downhill event at the Vancouver Olympics Saturday because of a slushy course.

The opening Alpine race was called off about 7ˆ½ hours before it was scheduled to start. A replacement date was not immediately announced.

Repeated snow, rain, fog and too-warm temperatures have turned the Olympic slopes into a soft, mushy mess too dangerous to be used for high-speed skiing. Only one of six training runs for men and women has been completed as planned.

The International Ski Federation said snow and rain throughout the night, along with expected mild temperatures during the day, made for poor skiing conditions. Highs on the course were only supposed to be in the low 40s, and a mix of rain, sleet and snow was likely.

The first women's event, the super-combined, was supposed to be Sunday, and the decision to postpone that was made Friday.