The Italian government made a point of honor to see the construction of the Cortina Sliding Center completed. There was no question of suffering the indignity of seeing the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton events take place in another country. Against the advice of the International Olympic Committee, the Italian authorities therefore went all out on the renovation of the Eugenio Monti track, used during the 1948 Winter Games. And achieved the feat of obtaining pre-homologation on time, after only thirteen months of construction, and ten months before the opening of the Games.
Olympic Games “made in Italy” at any cost
Sixty athletes raced down the new track last week, under the watchful eye of representatives from the two international federations involved, the FIL (luge) and the IBSF (bobsleigh and skeleton). The opinions were unanimous. "It's a historic venue for bobsleigh, and it will be great to add it to the calendar. The track is fun, with some high, technical turns and some very fast corners. It combines different riding styles; I think there's something for everyone.", explains American Kaillie Humphries Armbruster. “The feedback we received from our technical experts, coaches, and athletes on site was very positive. We are delighted with this result; the entire bobsleigh and skeleton community is looking forward to returning here.”, adds IBSF President Ivo Ferriani. One of the most beautiful tracks in the world, absolutely, according to Fabio Saldini, CEO of the company in charge of the Games infrastructure (Simico).
This was far from certain, however, since construction didn't begin until February 2024. And for good reason: in October 2023, the Italian authorities decided to abandon the project, deemed too costly (around €118 million). The idea was then to organize the events in a foreign country that already had suitable infrastructure, potentially Austria. A choice " responsible ", praised by the IOC, according to whom "this site needed to be reconsidered as its legacy was unclear.". However, the government changed its tune in the following weeks, determined to deliver Games "made in Italy". The result: barely 300 days to prepare the track, immense pressure on its shoulders and the threat of relocating the events to the United States, to Lake Placid, in the event of delays.
"Our Guggenheim Museum"
Christophe Dubi, Executive Director of the Games, and Kristin Kloster, Chair of the Coordination Commission for the 2026 Winter Games, publicly reiterated that the deadlines were tight and that the IOC had "not recommended the construction of new facilities". Despite criticism from environmental associations, reluctance from authorities and even an act of sabotage in February, the track met expectations within the allotted timeframe. The site will be fully completed by early November. Athletes will then be able to train there for ten days and get their bearings. The Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup will then give them the opportunity to test it in competition conditions (November 17-23). Italian politicians did not miss the opportunity to show off at the end of this long standoff.
“History is full of Italians who dared, commented Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, even comparing the work to Brunelleschi's dome in Florence. At the time, people said this dome would never last. Six centuries later, it's still there. That will also apply to those who say these Olympic Games cost too much." Luca Zaia also played happily on the patriotic fiber. The Sliding Center "had become an open-air dump", underlines the president of the Veneto region, satisfied to revalue this historic site: "This will be our Guggenheim Museum. People will come from far and wide to see a work that is a great example of architecture and engineering, and to look at it from that perspective, not just from a sporting perspective." The two men took the opportunity to thumb their noses at "those who pray that nothing happens" et "those who said it would be a failure"Italy wanted its track, and it will get it. But the IOC will keep a close eye on this issue, especially when it will be the time to assess its cost and its legacy.
