As Sempé Sees The Olympic Scene

On a clear day one can see Grenoble from Chamrousse. But a clearer—or, at least, sharper—view of this weekend's Olympic Alpine scene comes on these six pages from the incisive pen of the French cartoonist, Jean-Jacques Sempé. Having tried the runs himself, Sempé sees the racers immersed in February fog, feigning nonchalance. Soon they will tumble and soar down the roller coaster, through spectators and over bumps in pursuit of medals at the bottom.

The slalom is a wriggly line of poles down an icy hillside; some skiers will finish crying, some laughing and some will never finish at all.

FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS