The opening test races at the Milan-Cortina Olympics sliding venue will not have any spectators due to ongoing construction in the surrounding area, despite the track itself being nearly finished. However, the upcoming World Cup bobsled and skeleton meet in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, from Friday to Sunday will serve as an Olympic test event.
Luge athletes have also been trying out the venue ahead of the February 6-22 Games, with approximately 250 athletes testing the track over a month to ensure its readiness. Fabio Saldini, the Italian government commissioner overseeing the venue’s construction, expressed confidence in the track’s quality after rigorous testing.
Originally, the International Olympic Committee preferred holding sliding events at existing tracks in Austria or Switzerland but required a backup plan to use the Lake Placid facility in New York if the Cortina track faced delays. Despite challenges, the organizers are optimistic about completing the 118 million euros ($136 million US) project on time.
The new venue, utilizing more environmentally friendly refrigerants, boasts enhanced features such as a longer track and additional corners compared to the old one. Notably, the track’s cooling system will also benefit Cortina’s ice arena, serving multiple purposes during and after the Olympics.
The World Cup sliding event in Cortina marks a significant return after an 18-year hiatus, offering athletes like Kaillie Humphries-Armbruster and local talent Mattia Gaspari a chance to showcase their skills in bobsled and skeleton, respectively.
