2026 Olympic sliding events won't be held in Italy after failure to build track

Bobsled, skeleton and luge events will not be held in Italy during the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, organizing committee officials said Monday, meaning those athletes will likely be competing in either Austria or Switzerland during the Games.

Organizers in Italy said the change of plans was made primarily because of money. A long-controversial plan to rebuild the historic Eugenio Monti track in Cortina d'Ampezzo — built 100 years ago, used for the 1956 Olympics, and shut down 15 years ago — simply became too costly after it became clear the original budget of 50 million euros ($53 million US) slotted by the Italian government wouldn't be close to enough.

Some estimates in recent months suggested the actual price would be at least twice that amount.

"USA Luge is disappointed that the location of the sliding sports venue for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games has been moved away from Cortina, as we believe it would have been an ideal location given its history," USA Luge CEO Jim Leahy said. "That said, our athletes will be ready and enthusiastic for the competitions, regardless of where they take place."

The tracks in Igls, Austria, and St. Moritz, Switzerland – Igls is about 161 kilometres miles from Cortina, and St. Moritz about 322 km from Cortina -- are likely to be the only two seriously considered for the 2026 Games. Monday's decision was revealed at the International Olympic Committee's annual meeting in Mumbai, India.

It is an historic move, since now the 2026 Games will be the first in Winter Olympic history to have events held outside the "host" nation.

"As chairman of the IOC sustainability and legacy commission, I can only applaud the decision by our friends in Milano-Cortina not to go ahead with the reconstruction