Arena Size Sparks Olympic Hockey Debate: Safety Concerns Loom

Concerns have arisen over the ice hockey arena's size for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Reports suggest the rink is shorter than NHL standards, raising safety concerns. The IIHF assures it meets regulations, paralleling the Beijing 2022 dimensions. Delays in venue completion add to the pre-Olympics pressures.

Concerns have surfaced over the size of the ice hockey arena slated for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, as organizers and the IIHF face criticism over the rink's dimensions being shorter than the NHL standard. The issue of rink size adds to the existing worries over the venue's completion delays.

Sports outlet The Athletic reported last week that the shortened rink has raised safety concerns, particularly as NHL players are set to return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014. The rink in Milan measures 60 meters by 26 meters, exceeding the width but falling short of the NHL's 200-foot length requirement.

Despite these constraints, the IIHF argues that the dimensions are aligned with their regulations and match those used in the Beijing 2022 Games. The venue delays remain the central challenge as Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo prepare to co-host the Winter Olympics in February 2026.