Olympic Sliding Centre Sabotage Sparks Concerns Ahead of Milano-Cortina 2026

The construction of the sliding venue for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics has been disrupted by an act of sabotage, according to a government agency. A refrigeration pipe was removed, blocking a road and causing significant disruptions. The project has faced controversy due to its high costs and management concerns.

The construction site for the new sliding centre set to host the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton competitions has come under scrutiny following reported sabotage. A government agency confirmed on Friday that a refrigeration pipe was removed, blocking a roadway, leading to significant disruptions at the Alpine town of Cortina.

Simico, the agency managing the infrastructure for the Games, cited the incident as a critical disruption ahead of the International Olympic Committee's visit on March 4. Italy's infrastructure minister, Matteo Salvini, labeled the act as disturbing and serious on his social media.

The project's estimated cost is 118 million euros, though part of a larger 3.4-billion-euro budget. Despite the IOC's preference for utilizing existing infrastructure to save costs, organizers have chosen a new build, facing criticism over its potential underuse and management costs.

(With inputs from agencies.)