The 2026 Winter Olympics are set to begin in just over 10 months in the stunning Milan-Cortina region of northern Italy. However, there is a chance that some events may take place much closer to home for many Americans — specifically in Lake Placid, New York.
Most of the venues prepared to host the 2026 Winter Games’ 116 events across 16 disciplines are either completed or on track to be finished ahead of schedule. A notable exception, though, is the Cortina d’Ampezzo Eugenio Monti Sliding Centre, which is slated to host bobsled, skeleton, and luge events. As the Games draw near, the sliding center has yet to receive final approval from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to hold competitions, raising concerns about its readiness.
Originally built in the 1920s and named after an Italian Olympic hero, the Eugenio Monti center has been a key location for sliding events for many years. However, it has required significant renovations to meet the current Olympic standards. Italian Olympic officials declined the IOC’s suggestion to relocate the sliding events to nearby venues in Austria or Switzerland, choosing instead to invest in upgrading their own facility.
With less than a year until the Olympics, the public company managing the development, known as Società Infrastrutture Milano Cortina 2026 (SIMICO), has undertaken the ambitious task of constructing a new 1,730-meter track with 16 turns. This project, which builds upon the original layout of the track, comes with a budget of more than €118 million.
Safety is a major priority when it comes to Olympic venues, especially for sliding sports, which have witnessed accidents in the past. The tragic death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics remains a painful reminder of the risks involved in these events.
Because of the uncertainty around the Cortina sliding center’s readiness, Olympic organizers have contacted Lake Placid, home to the 1980 Winter Games, about the possibility of hosting some sliding events. Lake Placid has kept its sliding center in excellent condition, making it one of the finest facilities worldwide for bobsledding and luge.
Darcy Norfolk, the communications director for the Lake Placid Olympic Regional Development Authority, commented on the situation. “We are currently in a holding pattern regarding whether we will be activated. If needed, we are prepared to support the sliding athletes and provide a memorable Olympic experience,” Norfolk stated. He added that they remain optimistic that the Eugenio Monti facility will be ready in time for the Games.
Across Olympic history, there have been instances of hosting events far from the main competition sites. For example, last year, Paris Olympic organizers scheduled surfing events in Tahiti due to the lack of suitable waves in Paris. The Paris organizers also dealt with challenges in preparing the Seine River for triathlon and marathon swimming events, highlighting the tight deadlines often associated with Olympic planning.
Lake Placid’s aspiration of hosting another Olympic event in 2026 might be challenged. Recent tests conducted at the Cortina track have involved 60 athletes from 11 countries, who completed 176 runs to help certify the new track in cooperation with the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) and the International Luge Federation (FIL). The feedback from these tests has been generally positive.
IBSF President Ivo Ferriani expressed his satisfaction, saying, “It is wonderful to see our track for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games taking such good shape. We recognize that the timeline for reconstruction was ambitious, yet SIMICO has executed an impressive job.”
FIL General Secretary Dwight Bell shared similar sentiments, emphasizing that the diverse group of competitors had a great experience during the testing. “The athletes are excited about competing at the Olympic Winter Games next February,” Bell noted.
While the IOC will ultimately have the final say, the affirmations from the relevant sports federations will play a significant role in the decision-making process. The completion date for the new track is set for November 5, with events and training to follow shortly after. The official start date for the Milan-Cortina Olympics is February 6, 2026, although additional construction is required to outfit the Eugenio Monti facility for the attention it will attract.
Constructing and maintaining sliding tracks is a costly endeavor, with few venues globally meeting the highest competition standards. There is a strong desire among involved parties to make the Eugenio Monti track a significant location for sliding sports in the future.
If the IOC decides to maintain the sliding events in Italy, American fans won’t have to wait long for more Olympic excitement, as Los Angeles is set to host the Summer Games in 2028, and the 2034 Winter Olympics will take place in Salt Lake City.
