Published By: Sports Desk
Last Updated: February 01, 2024, 00:30 IST
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The International Olympic Committee remains to be not impressed with Italy’s willpower to spend about $90 million rebuilding a historic bobsled observe for the 2026 Winter Games.
LAUSANNE, Switzerland: The International Olympic Committee remains to be not impressed with Italy’s willpower to spend about $90 million rebuilding a historic bobsled observe for the 2026 Winter Games.
The IOC’s newest assertion Wednesday on the general public rift got here in the future after native organizers of the Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympics moved forward with a plan to revive a century-outdated sliding observe within the Dolomites ski resort.
Aiming to keep away from building prices and potential white elephant venues, the IOC desires the Winter Games opening in simply two years’ time to make use of an current observe — with two close by choices in St. Moritz, Switzerland and Igls, Austria.
The difficulty has grow to be one in all Italian nationwide pleasure to keep away from paying one other nation to stage 12 of the 116 medal occasions.
“The IOC firmly believes that the existing number of sliding centers, globally, is sufficient for the current number of athletes and competitions in the sports of bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton,” the Olympic physique stated in an announcement.
The IOC’s opposition to an Italian renewal venture on such a decent schedule — both at Cortina or Cesana, the now-closed sliding observe on the 2006 Turin Olympics that was beforehand thought of — has been publicly clear since its annual assembly in October held in Mumbai, India.
“(Only) existing and already operating tracks should be considered due to the very tight timeline remaining,” the IOC stated in an announcement, stating it had been “unequivocal that no permanent venue should be built without a clear and viable legacy plan.”
Italy’s deputy prime minister detailed his nation’s place Tuesday.
“It is not acceptable for the bobsled races to take place outside Italy,” Antonio Tajani stated on X, the social media platform previously referred to as Twitter. “We will do everything to achieve the goal.”
Still, the Italian organizing committee goals to have a again-up plan if renovating the Cortina observe used on the 1956 Winter Games is just not prepared by March subsequent 12 months.
The committee stated after a board assembly Tuesday its plans relaxation on signing a contract with a Parma-based building firm that has provided to rebuild the Cortina observe for 81.6 million euros ($89 million).
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AP protection of the Paris Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
