The Race Against Time: Will Cortina be Ready for the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Organizing the Olympics can be compared to buying tickets for an aging rock band and hoping they will be able to perform when the time comes. In the case of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, the main concern is whether the sliding center in Cortina will be ready in time for the Games.

Tickets are set to go on sale soon, but the construction of the sliding center in Cortina is running behind schedule. This has prompted organizers to keep backup options in Austria, Switzerland, and even New York. The uncertainty has raised questions about whether ticket holders might have to travel to a different location for the sliding events.

Despite these challenges, Andrea Varnier, the CEO of Milan-Cortina, remains optimistic that the sliding center will be ready in time. The decision to rebuild the century-old track in Cortina has faced opposition, but work is progressing, and there is hope that the venue will be approved.

One of the unique aspects of the 2026 Winter Olympics is the spread of venues across northern Italy. Spectators will have to travel between various clusters to watch their favorite sports. Organizers are working on improving public transport between venues and are relying on fans’ interests to clusterize naturally.

Creating an Olympic atmosphere with mostly existing venues will be a challenge, but the picturesque backdrop of the Dolomites and the Alps will surely add to the event’s charm. With the clock ticking down to the opening ceremony, all eyes are on Cortina to see if it will be ready to host the world’s best winter athletes in 2026.

For more Olympic updates, visit AP Olympics.

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