Milan Cortina Winter Games Face Crunch Time as Ice Hockey Arena Falls Behind Schedule
Construction on the main ice hockey arena for the Milan Cortina Winter Games has hit a roadblock, and organizers are now facing an uncertain future. With the first scheduled Olympic hockey game just around the corner, officials are breathing a sigh of relief that the venue is still expected to be ready.
However, there's no Plan B in sight. Andrea Francisi, chief games operations officer for Milan Cortina, admitted that there isn't one – a stark contrast to what typically happens at the Olympics. New Olympic venues usually undergo extensive testing before hosting medal events, but with a massive ice hockey arena like Santagiulia, it's not just about getting the ice right; it's also about ensuring all the other logistical and infrastructure aspects are functioning properly.
"We can't afford to have any hiccups," Francisi said. "So necessarily we have to be able to organize the competition in an impeccable manner at Santagiulia." The arena is still on track, with daily updates from local organizers and the construction team indicating that work has been sped up significantly.
Despite the pressure, Francisi remains confident – for now. He acknowledged there isn't a specific completion date, but insisted his team is working tirelessly to ensure everything is ready on time. Collaboration between the construction companies and local organizers is key, he said, with a coordinated plan in place to oversee progress.
The men's Olympic hockey tournament kicks off from 11-22 February, followed by the women's event from 5-19 February. With less than two months to go before the games begin, everyone is holding their breath – will Santagiulia be ready? Only time will tell if Milan Cortina can deliver on its promise of a successful and memorable hockey tournament.
Construction on the main ice hockey arena for the Milan Cortina Winter Games has hit a roadblock, and organizers are now facing an uncertain future. With the first scheduled Olympic hockey game just around the corner, officials are breathing a sigh of relief that the venue is still expected to be ready.
However, there's no Plan B in sight. Andrea Francisi, chief games operations officer for Milan Cortina, admitted that there isn't one – a stark contrast to what typically happens at the Olympics. New Olympic venues usually undergo extensive testing before hosting medal events, but with a massive ice hockey arena like Santagiulia, it's not just about getting the ice right; it's also about ensuring all the other logistical and infrastructure aspects are functioning properly.
"We can't afford to have any hiccups," Francisi said. "So necessarily we have to be able to organize the competition in an impeccable manner at Santagiulia." The arena is still on track, with daily updates from local organizers and the construction team indicating that work has been sped up significantly.
Despite the pressure, Francisi remains confident – for now. He acknowledged there isn't a specific completion date, but insisted his team is working tirelessly to ensure everything is ready on time. Collaboration between the construction companies and local organizers is key, he said, with a coordinated plan in place to oversee progress.
The men's Olympic hockey tournament kicks off from 11-22 February, followed by the women's event from 5-19 February. With less than two months to go before the games begin, everyone is holding their breath – will Santagiulia be ready? Only time will tell if Milan Cortina can deliver on its promise of a successful and memorable hockey tournament.
I'm sending all good vibes to the team working on that arena 
I hope they get everything sorted out in time, it's not just about the ice but also about the logistics, that's a lot of pressure! 
fingers crossed for a smooth and successful tournament 
It's one thing to rush through construction, but another to ensure everything else is on point too... like what if something goes wrong with the ice or the seating? 
And can't they have a backup plan or somethin'? Like, just in case?! 
I mean, I get that it's Olympics and all, but come on! 
They need to get their act together before it's too late... 2 months is like, a really short amount of time. 
. You gotta have a backup plan, you know? Like, what if the arena is still not ready on time? What will happen to the athletes, the fans, everyone involved? 
... they're under so much pressure with only a few weeks to go! I mean, you can't blame them for wanting every detail perfect, but it's like, what if something unexpected comes up? 
Fingers crossed for Milan Cortina that everything falls into place! 