With 100 days remaining until the start of the Milan-Cortina Olympics, preparations are in full swing in northern Italy for the most geographically dispersed Winter Games ever. The event will be spread across various locations, with Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo serving as the main clusters. The two cities are over 400 kilometers apart, requiring a full day of travel between them.
Apart from Milan and Cortina, athletes will compete in three other mountain clusters, and the closing ceremony will be held in Verona. While the Games will primarily utilize existing facilities, some venues are undergoing renovation or construction.
In Milan, the iconic San Siro Stadium will host the opening ceremony before being replaced by a new stadium post-Olympics. The Santagiulia arena, the main hockey venue, is under construction and expected to be completed by January. Ice hockey matches will also be held at the Fiera Milano exhibition venue.
Additionally, Milan will feature the Ice Park at the Fiera Milano complex, hosting speed skating and some ice hockey matches. The Ice Park comprises the Speed Skating Stadium and the Rho Ice Hockey Arena. Short track and figure skating events will take place at the Forum di Milano.
Moving to Cortina, the Tofane alpine skiing center, Olympia delle Tofane, will host the women’s alpine skiing events. Curling will take place in the Olympic Ice Stadium, while the rebuilt Cortina Sliding Centre will host bobsled, luge, and skeleton events.
In Bormio, the Stelvio course will be the setting for men’s alpine skiing and ski mountaineering. Livigno will host snowboarding and freestyle skiing events, with Predazzo offering a picturesque backdrop for ski jumping. Tesero will be the venue for cross-country skiing, and Anterselva will host the biathlon competition.
The closing ceremony will take place at the historic Verona Arena, known for its Roman amphitheater architecture. The arena will welcome around 15,000 spectators for the special occasion.
Overall, the Milan-Cortina Olympics promise a diverse and exciting array of events spread across multiple stunning locations in Italy.