The opening test races at the controversial sliding venue for the Milan-Cortina Olympics will not have spectators present. This is due to ongoing construction work in the surrounding area, despite the track itself being mostly finished. Nonetheless, the upcoming World Cup bobsled and skeleton competition taking place from Friday to Sunday will serve as an Olympic test event in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Luge athletes have also been utilizing the venue for testing ahead of the Games scheduled for Feb. 6-22.
Fabio Saldini, the Italian government commissioner overseeing the venue’s construction, mentioned that approximately 250 athletes will have tested the track during a month-long period, providing a valuable stress test for future events. The old Eugenio Monti track, which opened in 1923 and closed in 2008 due to maintenance cost issues, has been replaced by the new facility.
Despite the International Olympic Committee’s initial preference for using existing tracks in Austria or Switzerland for the sliding events, the local organizing committee was tasked with creating a backup plan involving the use of the facility in Lake Placid, New York, if the Cortina track was not ready in time.
Environmental considerations have been paramount during the construction process of the new venue, with efforts to ensure minimal impact. The refrigerant used in the new track is 96% glycol, a more eco-friendly option compared to the ammonia used in the old track. The excess heat generated by the track will be utilized to cool Cortina’s ice arena during the Olympics, with plans to repurpose the cooling system for a new curling center post-Games.
The new track in Cortina is longer and features more corners than its predecessor, making it a challenging course for athletes. Notably, veteran American bobsledder Kaillie Humphries-Armbruster, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, has prior experience on the old Cortina track. Additionally, local skeleton athlete Mattia Gaspari from Cortina will have the opportunity to compete for host Italy at his home venue.