With only 100 days remaining, preparations are underway in northern Italy for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics, set to be the most geographically spread-out Winter Games ever. The event will feature two primary hubs: Milan, a bustling industrial city, and Cortina d’Ampezzo, an upscale ski resort nestled in the Dolomites mountain range. These locations are over 400 kilometers apart, necessitating a full day of travel between them.
Apart from the main clusters, athletes will compete in three other mountain regions, with the closing ceremony scheduled to take place in Verona, the largest city in the Veneto region. The majority of the Games will utilize existing infrastructure, although some venues are undergoing renovations or being constructed from scratch.
In Milan, the iconic San Siro Stadium will host the opening ceremony before being replaced by a new stadium post-Olympics. The Santagiulia arena is racing against time to be completed for the main hockey events, with organizers confident in meeting the tight deadlines. Additionally, the Ice Park at the Fiera Milano exhibition venue will accommodate ice hockey and speed skating competitions.
For Cortina, the Tofane alpine skiing center, known as the “queen of the Dolomites,” will be the stage for women’s alpine skiing events. The Curling Olympic Stadium and Cortina Sliding Centre, extensively renovated for 118 million euros, will host curling and sliding events, respectively.
Bormio will feature the challenging Stelvio course for men’s alpine skiing and ski mountaineering competitions. Livigno, a popular destination for snowboarding and freestyle skiing, will host these events at its Snow Park and Aerials and Moguls Park. Predazzo will provide a picturesque backdrop for ski jumping, while Tesero will be the venue for cross-country skiing.
Anterselva, nestled in the South Tyrol mountains, will host the biathlon competition at its renowned Biathlon Arena. Finally, the historic Verona Arena will stage the closing ceremony in its impressive Roman amphitheater setting. This UNESCO World Heritage site will allow around 15,000 spectators to witness the grand finale on February 22.
These diverse and scenic venues across Italy are gearing up to welcome athletes and spectators from around the world for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, promising a memorable and exciting winter sports spectacle.