NEWS FROM NAGANO: A DAILY DOSE OF OLYMPIC HEADLINES : WEATHER FORECASTERS ON CONSTANT ALERT.

It's called the ``snow eater'' - a heavy, warm wind blowing in from the Japan Sea that could signal the beginning of spring and disaster for the Winter Olympics.

And although Nagano's weather seems to finally be cooperating with Olympic organizers, potential problems like the ``snow eater'' are keeping forecasters on constant alert.

``This will be a real test of our skills,'' Hiromichi Ito, the chief weather forecaster for the Games, said Sunday. ``There are special difficulties with each venue.''

Ito's 45-member weather team is armed with possibly the most high-tech arsenal of forecasting gear ever used at a Winter Olympics. They will be manning it round the clock until the Feb. 7-22 Games are over.

At their command is a state-of-the-art Doppler radar like that used in the movie ``Twister,'' laser equipment for observing cloud formations, and a highly advanced on-line information system.

Forecasters will be deployed to each venue, and a supercomputer will crunch all the numbers into data fast enough for race officials to decide whether a day's competition should be called off.

U.S. bobsledder escapes punishment

A much-criticized test for a strength-building male hormone almost cost the United States its best shot at ending a 42-year medal drought in Olympic bobsledding.

Brian Shimer, a four-time Olympian and the driver of the top U.S. sleds, was found with higher-than-allowed levels of testosterone in the first part of a drug test following a meet last November, sources on the U.S. Olympic team told the Associated Press.

But Shimer, the bronze medalist in two- and four-man sleds at last year's world championships, escaped punishment because the second part of the test showed normal testosterone levels, said the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Land-mine victim has no complaints

A British land mine victim who will be one of the final torch bearers at the Nagano Olympics' opening ceremony says he isn't bothered that Japan's military will also take part.

Chris Moon, who lost his right hand and part of his right leg in the explosion of a land mine three years ago, said he does not believe military flyovers will detract from the ceremony's message of peace.

Japan's military has played a significant role before the Games, with 1,700 troops mobilized to prepare the ski runs and carry out other tasks for organizers.

-- Daily News Wire Services

COUNTDOWN TO OLYMPICS

Days until opening ceremony: 5.

Snowfall Sunday: No new snow in Nagano or on men's downhill course. That left 6.7 inches in Nagano, and 85 inches on the downhill course.

Olympic update: More than 1,600 people joined a charity walk led by IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch and anti-mine activist and Nobel Peace laureate Jody Williams.

Carrying the torch: The Olympic flame passed through the villages of Sakae, Nozawa Onsen, Tatsunomachi, Fujimi, Hara, Nagawamura, Azumimura and Azusagawamura in Nagano prefecture (state) Sunday.

-- Associated Press