The opening test races at the Milan-Cortina Olympics sliding venue will proceed without spectators due to ongoing construction around the track. Despite this, 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 testing the venue ahead of the Games scheduled for February 6-22.
Fabio Saldini, the Italian government commissioner overseeing the venue’s construction, mentioned that around 250 athletes will have tested the track over a month, providing a good stress test for the future. The old Eugenio Monti track, operational since 1923 but closed in 2008 due to maintenance costs, is being replaced by a new facility with a €118 million ($136 million US) budget.
Environmental considerations are a priority in the construction process. The new venue, with an advanced cooling system using 96% glycol and ammonia only in compressors for cooling, aims to be more climate-friendly. Additionally, the track’s cooling output will be utilized to cool Cortina’s ice arena during the Olympics, which will later host hockey and curling events.
The new track in Cortina is longer and more challenging than its predecessor, featuring 16 corners compared to the old track’s 11. Notably, veteran bobsledder Kaillie Humphries-Armbruster, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, is the sole competitor in the 30-nation field with experience on the previous Cortina track. In skeleton, local athlete Mattia Gaspari from Cortina will have the opportunity to compete for host Italy, marking a significant moment for the home crowd.