Just two years before the opening of the 2026 Winter Olympics, local organizing committees on Friday signed a contract to rebuild the 100-year-old bobsled track in Cortina d’Ampezzo, ending the saga started by Italy’s finance minister. It was decided that a “stop” would be applied. I regret supporting your bid.
The contract is with Parma-based construction company Impreza Pizzarotti & C, which is proposing to rebuild the Cortina truck for 81.6 million euros (approximately $118 million). It was announced that work would begin on February 19th.
The Milan-Cortina Games committee announced on Tuesday its decision to go ahead with plans amid a standoff with the International Olympic Committee, which is pushing for the use of existing overseas venues in neighboring Austria or Switzerland to cut costs. But the Italian government does not want to fund overseas venues.
“This choice has been completely canceled and proves the government’s extremely strong determination to complete all woks in Italy in the best possible way for the Olympics,” it said in a statement.
Next Tuesday will be exactly two years before the opening ceremony in Milan, and the Cortina track must be ready by then. With less than a year until the IOC-mandated test event, the Milan-Cortina committee has acknowledged that “under no circumstances” can it certify new courses beyond March 2025.
No sliding track has ever been built in such a short time recently, and organizers are still negotiating a final plan B (possibly in a neighboring country) that would require additional funding.
timing risk
If preparations are not made in time, there is a risk that the committee will have to spend even more money, while also having to pay for the reconstruction of the Cortina track, which will not be used for the Olympics.
Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said: “The Olympics are not held every two years. They will be held in 2026, but after that they will not be held again. I would like to express my support for the Olympics because I feel responsible. I’m starting to regret it.”
Mr Giorgetti was speaking at a meeting in Sondrio in the Valtellina Valley, which is also home to Bormio, where the men’s ski competition will be held.
He added that an electronic sign should be installed “at the entrance to Valtellina indicating how many days are left to help understand the urgency needed.”