Sliding Events for 2026 Winter Olympics Set to Go Outside Italy
16th October 2023
Last modified on October 20th, 2023
Bobsleigh, luge and skeleton competitions will not take place in Milan, Cortina or any other Italian site. Innsbruck in Austria is the most likely venue.
The Italian authorities have told the International Olympic Committee that costs have spiralled and it is not now viable to build a new track.
Costs have doubled to €80m, (£69.2m).
The organisers blame the recent global financial trouble saying it has “has forced a reflection on the resources originally allocated by the Italian government”.
“As a result, Milano-Cortina 2026 has identified another venue outside Italy,” said the Italian Winter Games chief, Giovanni Malago.
“We are already working to explore all possible solutions and analyse the alternatives together with the IOC and international federations before submitting the choice to our board for final approval.”
It is the first time in the 102-year history of the Winter Olympics that an event has been staged outside the host country.
Italy’s Winters Sports Federation, has criticised the decision, saying “the foundations for building the athletes of the future will be lost”.
“The reasoning of elevated costs isn’t sufficient to explain such a serious decision.
“In Italy we don’t have a single artificial track where teams can train, our athletes are forced to go abroad.
“This is the final act, one that is destined to destroy the sliding sports movement in Italy.”
The Milan-Cortina Games are scheduled to take place from 6th – 22nd February 2026.
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