Olympic Dreams: Cortina d'Ampezzo's Revamped Sliding Centre Debuts

The Eugenio Monti sliding centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo, rebuilt for €118 million, is now ready for the 2024 Winter Olympics events. Over 60 athletes began testing its bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge tracks. Despite incomplete surroundings, Milan and Cortina prepare to co-host the Games in February.

Athletes had a unique opportunity on Tuesday to test out the newly completed sliding centre set to host the 2024 Winter Olympics. The venue, located in Cortina d'Ampezzo, has undergone a costly €118 million makeover.

Named after a former Italian bobsleigh champion, the Eugenio Monti centre replaces a venue initially constructed in the 1920s. It will serve as the stage for bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge events during the Olympic Games next February. Pre-homologation testing attracts sixty athletes from Italy and 11 other nations.

Despite ongoing work to finalize the venue's surroundings, the centre is operational for athlete specification checks and safety evaluations. Meanwhile, Lake Placid has been slated as a backup location should contingencies arise in Cortina. The Games will be primarily hosted by Cortina and Milan from February 6 to 22, 2024.

(With inputs from agencies.)