With just 100 days left, preparations are well underway for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics in northern Italy, which are set to be the most geographically spread out Winter Games in history.
The Games will be centered around two main clusters: Milan, a bustling industrial hub, and Cortina d’Ampezzo, an exclusive winter resort nestled in the Dolomites mountain range. The distance between these two locations exceeds 400 kilometers, so visitors should anticipate a full day of travel. Apart from these main clusters, athletes will also compete in three other mountain clusters, with the closing ceremony scheduled to be held in Verona, the largest city in the northeastern Veneto region.
While most venues will utilize existing infrastructure, some are undergoing renovations or are being built from scratch. Let’s take a closer look at the key venues:
**MILAN**
– **San Siro Stadium:** The iconic 80,000-seat San Siro stadium in Milan, home to renowned soccer teams AC Milan and Inter Milan, will host the opening ceremony. Post-games, this historic venue is set for demolition to make way for a new stadium.
– **Santagiulia Arena:** A new 16,000-seat arena in Milan will serve as the primary hockey venue. Despite construction delays, organizers are optimistic it will be ready in time for the Games.
– **Ice Park:** While the Santagiulia Arena will host the ice hockey finals, matches will also be held at the Fiera Milano exhibition venue, which will double as the speed skating venue using temporary structures.
**CORTINA**
– **Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre:** Cortina, famously known as the “queen of the Dolomites,” will host the women’s alpine skiing events at the Olympia delle Tofane course.
– **Curling Olympic Stadium:** Curling competitions will take place in the Olympic Ice Stadium, a legacy from the 1956 Games.
– **Cortina Sliding Centre:** The revamped century-old sliding center will host bobsled, luge, and skeleton events, with the venue exceeding expectations after facing tight construction deadlines.
**BORMIO**
– The Stelvio course in Bormio will be the battleground for men’s alpine skiing and ski mountaineering events, with veteran skiers praising its challenging nature.
**LIVIGNO**
– Livigno will host snowboarding and freestyle skiing competitions at the Livigno Snow Park and Livigno Aerials and Moguls Park, attracting a younger audience.
**PREDAZZO**
– Predazzo will provide a picturesque backdrop for the ski jumping events, boasting world-class facilities for athletes.
**TESERO**
– Cross-country skiing events will be held in Tesero, a municipality close to Predazzo, with a stadium that has a rich history of hosting prestigious skiing competitions.
**ANTERSELVA**
– Anterselva, nestled in the South Tyrol mountains, will be the venue for the biathlon competition, known for its extensive track network and cultural diversity.
**VERONA**
– The grand finale will unfold at the historic Verona Arena, a Roman amphitheater renowned for its opera performances, with the closing ceremony attracting around 15,000 spectators.
The Milan-Cortina Olympics promise a diverse array of venues and events, showcasing Italy’s rich cultural and sporting heritage.
