WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY About "The Pink Garters"  Le giarrettiere rosa/The Pink Garters LE GIARRETTIERE ROSA / THE PINK GARTERS (by Mauro Deusebio) A fantastic journey through the history of Italian women's ice hockey (bilingual Italian/English text) It is the world of ice hockey, more than any other, that has preserved the use of the garter; but instead of the dirty grey or sickly cream coloured garters reeking of sweat and speckled with mould found at the bottom of male hockey players' bags, we have preferred the pink garters of the women's game, because , to quote Paolo Conte: "The pink garter, whoever sees it never forgets it… " The undisputed stars of this book are the girls who, by chance (there's no other way of saying it, at least not here), play a "male" sport described by Alessandro Baricco, in 'Barnum', as "… a sport of exaggerated beauty". Throughout the book, the girls are joined, here and there, by Isobel, Saint Peter, Tertius and the cat Alchamadyk. Then there is the entourage, meaning all those trainers, referees, managers, and fans &endash; in short, all those people who make a sport of a game. Chapter 1 - Prologue: the three narrators Presentation of the characters who, by means of a combination of comments, research, interviews and imagination, create the makings of a narrative plot. Chapter 2 - Isobel talks about the past The origins of the women's game and its development in changing historical and social contexts. Chapter 3 - A look at the situation on the home front The ups and downs of women's hockey in Italy, with a look at the teams and incidents that have favoured or slowed its development. Chapter 4 - Which of the "Pink Garters" will live (and die) A journey with and among the entourage: opinions, rants, interviews and analysis from those who live in direct contact with Italian women's hockey. Chapter 5 - The national team Twelve years, not all put to the best possible use: the 'Azzurre', from their debut to the last World Championships in 2005. A declaration of love. Chapter 6 - Who will play at the games A semi-serious look at the 30 + 10 hockey players competing for the 20 places available on the Olympic squad. Chapter 7 - Eight teams for Turin 2006 A look at the national teams taking part in the Olympic women's ice-hockey tournament, with picture portraits of the players to watch. Chapter 8 - Statistical appendix Results, winners, and stars of previous Olympic, World and Italian Championships. Hockey home in lingua italiana controcopertina