The opening test races at the Milan-Cortina Olympics’ sliding venue will not have any spectators due to ongoing construction activities in the surrounding area. The upcoming World Cup bobsled and skeleton meet in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, will serve as an Olympic test event from Friday to Sunday. Luge athletes have also been trying out the venue in preparation for the Games scheduled from Feb. 6-22.
Approximately 250 athletes have tested the track over the past month, providing valuable insights for the future, as stated by Fabio Saldini, the Italian government commissioner overseeing the venue’s construction. The old Eugenio Monti track, which originally opened in 1923 and closed in 2008 due to maintenance costs, has been replaced by a new facility.
Despite initial concerns and alternative suggestions by the International Olympic Committee to use existing tracks in neighboring countries, the organizers are confident in completing the 118 million euros ($136 million US) project on time. The new venue boasts improved environmental features, such as the use of glycol as a refrigerant, which is more eco-friendly compared to the old ammonia-based system.
The track’s cooling output will also be utilized for Cortina’s ice arena during the Olympics, including curling matches. After the games, the ice arena will revert to a hockey venue, while plans are underway to construct a new curling center cooled by the sliding center’s infrastructure. The new track in Cortina is longer and more challenging, with 16 corners compared to the previous 11, attracting athletes like Kaillie Humphries-Armbruster, a renowned American bobsledder, and local talent Mattia Gaspari in skeleton representing Italy.