With a Year to Go, Italy Readies for 2026 Winter Olympics

Cortina's sliding center reconstruction raises concerns about deadlines
By Newser.AI Read our AI policy
Posted Feb 6, 2025 9:56 AM CST
With a Year to Go, Italy Readies for 2026 Winter Olympics
A billboard reading 'One Year To Go' for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics is displayed in front of the Duomo gothic cathedral, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025.   (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

With the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics set to open exactly a year from Thursday, Italy prepares its infrastructure, focusing on the century-old sliding center in Cortina d'Ampezzo. With a critical deadline looming at the end of next month, the facility must undergo pre-certification to be ready for the upcoming Games. The reconstruction site employs 180 workers in shifts from 6am to 1am, ensuring that the first ice will be laid in March.

Luca Zaia, president of the Veneto region, remains optimistic, dismissing any possibility that bobsled, luge, and skeleton events would move to Lake Placid, New York, if the facility isn't ready. He said: "You should see it … you can see the whole track at this point. We are really ahead with the work." Thomas Bach, the IOC president, echoes this confidence, lauding Italy's preparedness and emphasizing the Games will capitalize on existing Northern Italian venues as part of cost-cutting reforms.

Speaking at an event marking the one-year countdown to the Olympic opening ceremony at Milan's San Siro stadium, Bach said: "From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all of you. ... You are all setting the stage for the world's best winter sport athletes, in an excellent way. Italy is ready. Italy is ready to write the next chapter of its great Olympic history." (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

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