The Italian government remains unclear as to where the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton races will be held at the 2026 Olympics and has postponed the decision.
Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini advocated for the construction of a new railway in Cortina d’Ampezzo at a meeting in Rome on Tuesday evening (December 5th, 2023). The deputy head of government of the right-wing Lega party assured that such a project would “not a cent extra” will cost. However, the IOC had ruled out a new building if there was no viable plan for subsequent use.
Competitions in Germany?
There is also talk of renovating the Olympic track in the Italian winter sports resort of Cesana, which has been closed since 2011, or moving the competitions to Austria or Germany. The Bobsleigh and Sled Association for Germany (BSD) is already in the running with the artificial ice rinks in Schönau am Königssee, Altenberg and Winterberg.
Hosting competitions outside the host country would be a first in the history of the Winter Games. The games were awarded to Milan and Cortina in 2019. They take place in February of next year.