Delegation reports record progress in sliding track build in run up to 2026 Winter Olympics
By James M. Odato
A Lake Placid bobsled track expert scouting the Cortina sliding run under construction for the 2026 Winter Olympics says the Italians may have pulled off a miracle with ice.
“The track is going to be fabulous when the time comes,” said Tony Carlino, an official with the Olympic Regional Developer Authority for 19 years. A former U.S. national team bobsledder, he retired in 2019 as manager of ORDA’s Olympic Sports Complex near Lake Placid, site of the Mount Van Hoevenberg sliding track used in the 1980 Winter Olympics.
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This week, he is on duty for the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation as the U.S. member of a delegation analyzing the Cortina track. The facility is under development by the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Committee and has been the subject of uncertainty and skepticism for months.
ORDA won the rights to become the alternative site of the sliding events for the Games if Italy failed to prove it could build the track on time.
New York officials, eager to host another Olympics, have been awaiting the result of this week’s evaluations in Italy.
On Friday, the federation’s president joined others in a press release hailing the track the Italians have built in such a short time and all but declared it the site of the sliding events in the next Winter Games.
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“It is just fantastic to see our track for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games taking such good shape,” IBSF President Ivo Ferriani said. “We all know that the timeframe for the re-construction was very tight and ambitious, but SiMiCo (Infrastructure Company Milan Cortina 2026) has done an amazing job.
“We have successfully held the test runs,” he said. “Minor adaptions still need to be done and the main focus must remain on the finalization of the construction works. The feedback we received from our technical experts and the coaches and athletes on site this week, has been very positive. We are thrilled about this outcome and the entire bobsleigh and skeleton community cannot wait to come back here for our World Cup in November, further training — and then of course the pinnacle of all competition, the Olympic Games.”
In an interview, Carlino said the track, on which work began about 13 months ago, is 98% complete. Outside of a few minor fixes, it should be in fine shape for 2026, given the amount of progress. “I was shocked,” he said. He said test runs all week have gone well and without incident.
“There are a few things to do, nothing earth shattering,” said Carlino.
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Starting Tuesday, 60 athletes began sledding, Carlino said. American bobsledders Frankie Del Luca and Kaillie Humphries, who train in Lake Placid, were among them, said Carlino. He said he has been at the finish line and has gotten reactions from the sledders: “They said it is great.”
On Friday he and other evaluators were to meet to discuss the standing of their approval decision. “I don’t want to say one way or the other, but it’s looking good,” Carlino said. “Everybody seems to be pretty positive.”
An Italian celebration
The upbeat review from Carlino, who now consults on sliding matters for ORDA and others, followed last week’s International Olympic Committee meeting at which the preparations for the 2026 games received high praise. The IOC will ultimately decide if the Italian track wins approval for use.
Thomas Bach, the IOC’s president, told the Italian officials after their presentation that “we are not nervous anymore.” Italian Olympic officials said they are on schedule and that the construction of the bobsled track “continues at a rapid pace.”
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The work accomplished, Andrea Varnier, chief executive officer of the Italian committee, was “unthinkable one year ago.” The goal is to guarantee the best experience to the athletes and fans during the games … with a state-of-the art facility that is also pioneering in terms of sustainability.” His speech won heavy applause.
“The Italians have reason to be upbeat because people didn’t believe they could do it,” Carlino said. “They’ve turned the corner.” He said multiple crews are working on the project and that once the track is approved, crews can turn their attention to the grounds and buildings around the course.
Related Reading: Cool Runnings, part 2? Jamaican bobsled team gears up for next Olympics
Olympic Games update
At the IOC meeting, officials said attendees bought 600,000 tickets so far. A great deal of sales are to people 35-45 years old and many coming from the United States.
Officials with ORDA, planning about $96 million in expenditures to upgrade Mount Van Hoevenberg’s sliding track, remain in a holding pattern.
“Should we be needed, we are here to support the sliding athletes and provide an Olympic experience from competition to celebration in February of 2026,” said Darcy Norfolk, ORDA’s communications director. “It is a privilege for Lake Placid to be considered in the planning.” She added that ensuring an “exceptional” Games event becomes more difficult each day that passes without ORDA activating its alternative-site plan.
Editor’s note: This story was updated on March 27, 2025 to include information on performance testing and the continuing positive evaluation and on March 28 to include the IBSF’s positive assessment. Photo at top: A member of Team Jamaica’s Olympic bobsled team practices at Mount Van Hoevenberg’s track this winter. Photo by Nancie Battaglia
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