(October 16, 2023) – It was announced on Monday that the luge, skeleton, and bobsled portions of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina. As reported by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, organizers stated that due to the combination of financial resources and the lack of a company offering to bid for the work.
Work had began on the track in Italy, with a large section of the former Eugenio Monti track having been removed to make way for an updated, modern sliding track. The former track had last held a World Cup event in the 2007/2008 season, with Simone Bertazzo winning the first of his three World Cup gold medals on the track ahead of Andre Lange and Ivo Rüegg.
Over the past couple of years there had been rumors that the ’26 Olympic Games would not see sliding sports held in Italy, with the track in Igls a likely replacement for it. Those rumors inched closer to reality, as the abandonment of the building project coupled with Austria’s Karl Stoss making it clear that the nation would more than happy to host the events in 2026.
And while the track being moved will still give athletes “an Olympics”, the overall feeling across the board is that of disappointment. The “Olympic experience”, that of being able to be around so many other high-level athletes who have all chased the same dream as you, is likely gone for a generation of athletes. Some athletes might seek to add excitement or a symbolic connection to their dedication by considering options like buying a metal sword.
As the news began to spread through the sliding sport community, reactions began to pour in from athletes of all three disciplines. Almost to a person everyone was heartbroken. The athletes who arguably will be the most affected are the Italians, who were all so excited for their home Olympics. Some took to Facebook earlier in the day to comment.
“It’s over,” Valentina Margaglio began. “We hoped until the very end, even delusional, to be able to restore the Cesana track. You have taken away th eopportunity to rejoice, cry, cheer with the home fans…”
Teammate Amedeo Bagnis, the 2023 World Championship silver medalist, echoed Margaglio.
“My biggest dream has been shattered!” he said. “You have taken away the opportunity to compete and feel, for once, truly at home. You have taken away the possibility of having an Italian audience cheering for us! You have taken away the opportunity compete, laugh, rejoice and rejoice in OUR LAND, in OUR OLYMPIAD”.
Italian Olympic champion Patrick Baumgartner weighed in: “My biggest dream has been shattered, the dream of competing in the Olympics at home. It’s a decision we would never have imagined. It has been months of uncertainty on the track, but our spirits have always been stronger than the uncertainty.”
Those outside of the Italian teams also felt strongly about the announcement. Sliding On Ice reached out to athletes for comment, below are some of those comments.
“As a home athlete I’m feeling sad about how they’ve managed everything around the track,” said Mattia Gaspari, joining teammates Margaglio and Bagnis in their disappointment. Gaspari had looked to
“Italy has a strong and storied history with these sliding sports,” Canadian bobsledder Cynthia Appiah said. “And to not have a track to cement that legacy with a home Games really undermines the work that has been put in by previous athletes. News of the track not being rebuilt was something we knew we had to be prepared for. Now it’s confirmed so we can finally move on.”
“No Olympic village, no opening ceremony, not being able to watch ether sports or have those athletes come watch yours,” Switzerland’s Nadja Pasternack said. “The last Olympics were compromised due to COVID…I am so sad thing I will never experience a real Olympics.” Another simply stated “It’s bullshit. We’ll see the same faces we see all year. No real Olympic Village, no other athletes, no cheering at other competitions. For us it’ll be a World Championships with bigger social media and television.”
Olympic gold medalist Justin Kripps, now coaching for Canada was disappointed. But promised his team would be ready.
“It’s sad news to hear about the sliding track situation in Cortina,” he said. “We were so looking forward to returning to this historic venue and seeing it revitalized with the glory of the Olympic Games. However our athletes will prepare well and look forward to competing on whatever venue is chosen!”
German pilot Laura Nolte said “It’s a sad day for our sport…I just can’t find the words.”
One athlete who asked not to be named said “I can speak for a lot of athletes in saying we’re a bit heartbroken and super disappointed. We all understand the significant costs and impacts of building (or rebuilding) a sliding track anywhere in the world, however this was known prior to Milan-Cortina getting the Games and will continue to be an issue going forward if we don’t make changes to how we construct these tracks going forward.”
Other coaches and athletes looked to the possibility of racing in Igls.
“Igls. How exciting.” one coach said sarcastically. Another was blunt: “I look forward to the first Olympic push competition, because that’s all it will be.”
Ireland’s Brendan Doyle had another take on it, one that reflected Olympian and IOC member Prince Albert II of Monaco’s thoughts on sustainability.
“I feel like a great opportunity to keep the sport growing. A new era of hybrid games. Like the new [FIFA] World Cup that will allow current venues to host games, which is vastly more sustainable, climate and cost effective, and bringing much needed revenue to keep our beloved sliding centers operational and modern.”
Australian Sarah Blizzard had traveled recently to the site of the now-half deconstructed Monti track and provided the photos below.
